The Finns, who have long felt neglected by the rest of the world, are delighted to show off their schools. Many foreign educators want to visit Finnish schools for the simple reason that they are so good – very likely the best on Earth.
Superb schools symbolize the modern transformation of Finland, a poor and agricultural nation half a century ago, and today one of the world’s most prosperous, modern and adaptable countries.
Finland finishes first in the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) exams that test 15 – year – olds in all of the world’s industrial democracies. Finland also finishes at or near the top in many global comparisons of economic competitiveness: Internet usage, environmental practices and more. Finland, where the modern cell phone was largely invented, has more cell phones per capita than any other nation – nearly 85 per 100 citizens.
As recently as the 1970s, Finland required that children attend school for just six years and the education system here was nothing special. But new laws supported by substantial government spending created, in barely 20 years, a system that graduates nearly every young person from vocational or high school, and sends nearly half of them on to higher education. At every level, the schooling is rigorous, and free.
“The key,” said Pekka Himanen, 31, a renowned scholar with a PhD in philosophy (earned at age 20) who is a kind of guru of information – age Finland, “isn’t how much is invested, it’s the people. The high quality of Finnish education depends on the high quality of Finnish teachers. You need to have a college – level degree to run a kindergarten. You need a master’s – level degree to teach at a primary school. Many of the best students want to be teachers. This is linked to the fact that we really believe we live in an information age, so it is respected to be in such a key information profession as teaching.”
1．Half a century ago, Finland .
A．used superb schools to symbolize the country
B．was a poor nation with farming as its main history
C．has very few schools
D．was the only poor country whose schools were great
2．The economic competitiveness in Finland is now .
A．rank first one in the world
B．not so good
C．even better than education
D．quite well
3．The following statements about the education in Finland today are true except .
A．the students will feel free at school
B．every young person has to finish vocational or high school at least
C．half of the young people will go for higher education beyond vocational or high school
D．it is created only about 20 years ago
4．A kindergarten teacher in Finland today .
A．will take a special physical examination by doctors with college – level degree
B．has to receive some special training like dancing and singing
C．must have at least graduated from a college – level school
D．can get a college – level degree if he or she needs
5．The passage is mainly about .
A．the education in Finland B．the development of Finland
C．the teachers in Finland D．neglected Finns