Education Insights
How Finland’s Education System Reduces Dropout Rates and Keeps Students Engaged
March 19, 2025
March 19, 2025
Finland's education system has garnered international attention for its innovative approaches and remarkable outcomes. One of the most impressive aspects of Finnish education is its ability to reduce dropout rates and keep students engaged throughout their educational journey. This success can be attributed to a combination of factors, including a comprehensive framework of life skills, student-centered learning, and a collaborative school culture. The Finnish approach integrates these elements seamlessly, creating a holistic learning environment that supports students' academic and personal development.
Finland's emphasis on life skills, officially termed "transversal competences," forms the backbone of its education system. These competences are designed to prepare students for the complexities of modern life beyond academic achievement. By focusing on developing well-rounded individuals equipped with essential life skills, Finnish education sets a compelling model for educational systems worldwide.
The Finnish national core curriculum identifies seven key areas of transversal competences that are woven into every subject and aspect of school life. These competences represent a comprehensive life skills framework that Finnish education aims to nurture in all students.
At the heart of the Finnish curriculum is the development of metacognitive abilities. Students are encouraged to make observations, seek information, evaluate and produce knowledge, and develop the courage to face unclear or conflicting information. This competence area focuses on helping students recognize their own learning processes, find joy in learning, and develop innovative thinking capacities. The emphasis on thinking skills reflects Finland's educational philosophy that true learning goes beyond memorization. Students learn to reflect on and evaluate their own learning, developing a growth mindset that serves them throughout life. This approach creates independent learners who can adapt to new situations, solve problems creatively, and continue learning long after formal education ends.
Example: In Finnish classrooms, students are often encouraged to design their own projects, which helps them develop problem-solving skills and learn to navigate through complex information. This hands-on approach fosters a deeper understanding of the learning process and encourages students to explore topics in depth.
.png)
The Finnish curriculum places significant emphasis on preparing students for a world characterized by cultural, linguistic, religious, and philosophical diversity. This competence area develops students' abilities to respect human rights, communicate effectively, and understand the significance of culture and traditions for well-being. Finnish education recognizes that effective communication skills are fundamental to success in both personal and professional life. Students learn to express themselves clearly, listen to others, and navigate cross-cultural interactions with sensitivity and respect. These skills prepare them for global citizenship in an increasingly interconnected world where cultural fluency is invaluable.
Example: Finnish schools often organize cultural events and festivals that celebrate diversity, providing students with opportunities to engage with different cultures firsthand. This practical approach helps students develop empathy and understanding, essential for effective communication in diverse environments.
Finnish education recognizes that personal well-being forms the foundation for all other learning and development. This competence area encompasses health, safety, human relationships, mobility, transport, personal finance management, and consumer skills. Students learn to make choices that positively impact their own well-being and that of others around them. The curriculum emphasizes emotional and empathy skills as part of well-being competence, teaching students to recognize and regulate their feelings and understand those of others. This focus on self-care extends to developing grit and resilience, particularly important life skills in a world characterized by rapid change and uncertainty.
Example: Finnish schools incorporate physical education and outdoor activities into the curriculum, emphasizing the importance of physical well-being alongside academic achievement. This holistic approach helps students understand the interconnectedness of physical and mental health.
.png)
In the Finnish context, multiliteracy refers to the ability to interpret, produce, and evaluate various kinds of texts across different contexts and situations. This comprehensive concept extends beyond traditional reading and writing to include visual, digital, and cultural literacies. Finnish education sees multiliteracy as essential for participating meaningfully in modern society. Students develop skills to access, combine, modify, and produce information in various formats and contexts. This competence area prepares students to critically analyze the vast amounts of information they encounter daily and to communicate effectively across multiple platforms and media.
Example: Finnish students are encouraged to create multimedia presentations and projects, which helps them develop skills in visual and digital communication. This approach prepares them for a world where information is increasingly presented in diverse formats.
Digital skills are recognized as fundamental life skills in the Finnish curriculum. Students develop comprehensive digital competences including practical skills, creative production, responsible and safe usage, and utilizing technology for interaction and networking. These skills are integrated across all subjects rather than taught in isolation. Finnish education approaches technology not merely as a tool but as an environment in which students must learn to navigate ethically and effectively. The curriculum emphasizes responsible digital citizenship alongside technical proficiency, preparing students for a world where digital competence is increasingly essential for both personal and professional success.
Example: Finnish schools integrate coding and programming into the curriculum from an early age, ensuring that students develop a strong foundation in digital skills. This early exposure helps students understand the potential and limitations of technology, preparing them for future careers.
The Finnish curriculum explicitly addresses preparation for working life through developing entrepreneurial attitudes and skills necessary for participation in a changing work environment. Students learn to take initiative, understand workplace dynamics, and develop the flexibility needed for modern careers. Specific working life skills emphasized include the ability to distinguish oneself in the labor market, understanding employment contracts and labor law, salary negotiation skills, and succeeding in challenging workplace situations. The Finnish approach recognizes that careers in the 21st century require adaptability, initiative, and collaboration skills beyond specific vocational knowledge.
Example: Finnish schools often collaborate with local businesses to provide students with real-world work experiences. This hands-on approach helps students develop practical skills and understand the realities of the modern workplace.
Finnish education places significant emphasis on preparing students as active citizens who can participate in democratic society and work toward sustainable development. This competence area develops democracy skills, ethical agency, and the ability to influence for a safe, just, and sustainable future. Students learn to use their competences for both personal benefit and the common good of society. The curriculum emphasizes research-based climate action, appreciation of circular economy principles, and sustainable consumerism as essential life skills for responsible citizenship in the 21st century.
Example: Finnish schools encourage students to participate in environmental projects, such as recycling initiatives or community clean-up events. This practical engagement helps students develop a sense of responsibility toward the environment and understand the impact of their actions on sustainability.
Finnish education emphasizes a student-centered approach, where learners take active roles in their educational journey. Teachers function more as guides who facilitate learning rather than as the sole source of knowledge. This approach naturally develops self-directed learning skills, initiative, and responsibility. Students in Finland spend less time in classrooms than their counterparts in many other countries, with average class sizes of around 20 students. This allows for more personalized attention and creates space for developing the social and emotional aspects of learning that underpin many essential life skills.
The Finnish system is notable for placing less emphasis on standardized testing and homework than many other educational systems. Finnish students have among the least amount of outside work and homework in the world, typically spending only half an hour a night on school-related tasks. This approach creates space for students to develop broader life skills through play, social interaction, hobbies, and family time. The reduced pressure allows students to focus on genuine learning rather than performance, fostering intrinsic motivation and a healthier relationship with learning that continues throughout life.
While many educational systems emphasize competition, the Finnish approach prioritizes cooperation. Schools do not publish rankings or comparisons, and the emphasis is on collaborative rather than competitive achievement. This creates an environment where students learn to work together effectively, developing crucial teamwork and social skills. The collaborative approach extends to teachers as well, who work together to support student development across subject boundaries. This modeling of cooperation reinforces the importance of these skills for students and creates a consistent educational environment.
In Finnish schools, students are encouraged to collaborate on projects, share ideas, and support each other's learning. This approach helps build strong social bonds and fosters a sense of community within the school. By focusing on shared goals rather than individual achievements, Finnish education promotes a culture of mutual respect and support. This collaborative mindset is not limited to students; teachers also work in teams to develop curriculum materials, share best practices, and support each other in professional development. The absence of competitive pressures allows students to focus on learning for its intrinsic value rather than for external validation, leading to a more positive and engaging educational experience.
The Finnish curriculum requires that at least once each school year, every school and grade level must implement a multidisciplinary learning module that explores selected themes from the viewpoint of different subjects. These modules provide real-world contexts for practicing and developing transversal competences across disciplinary boundaries. Schools themselves decide the aims and content of these projects, and crucially, students are engaged in planning and organizing the modules. This approach helps students see connections between different knowledge areas and apply their skills to authentic situations, making learning more meaningful and relevant to their lives.
These modules often focus on real-world issues or challenges, such as environmental sustainability, social justice, or technological innovation. By integrating multiple subjects into a single project, students gain a deeper understanding of how different disciplines intersect and contribute to solving complex problems. This approach not only enhances academic learning but also develops critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills. Students learn to approach challenges from multiple angles, combining theoretical knowledge with practical application.
The Finnish approach recognizes that life skills cannot simply be taught through direct instruction but must be experienced within a supportive community. Schools are viewed as learning communities where everyone can actively learn, explore, and participate. The development of transversal competences requires that the overall school culture parallels these aims. Finnish educators understand that to teach skills such as democratic participation or collaborative problem-solving, the school itself must function as a model of these principles. Students learn these life skills by experiencing them in authentic contexts within the school community.
Finnish schools strive to create an inclusive and supportive environment where students feel valued and encouraged to participate. This includes fostering open communication between teachers, students, and parents, ensuring that everyone is involved in the learning process. The school culture emphasizes mutual respect, empathy, and responsibility, providing students with opportunities to develop leadership skills and take on roles within the school community. By experiencing these values firsthand, students develop a strong sense of social responsibility and civic engagement.
Life skills development begins early in the Finnish system, with the early years curriculum laying foundations through five learning areas: The World of Languages, Exploration and the Environment, Art and Creative Expression, Physical and Mental Wellbeing, and Social Skills. Even at the preschool level, Finnish education emphasizes the development of self-regulation, social skills, cooperation, and conflict resolution. The early focus on these foundational life skills creates a strong platform for the more complex competences developed throughout basic education.
In Finnish preschools, play-based learning is a central approach. Children engage in activities that encourage exploration, creativity, and social interaction, laying the groundwork for future academic and personal success. The emphasis on social skills and cooperation helps children develop essential abilities like sharing, empathy, and communication. These early years also introduce children to basic concepts of responsibility and self-care, setting them up for a lifelong journey of learning and personal growth.
The development of life skills in Finnish education is supported by distinctive pedagogical approaches that create an environment where these competences can flourish. The emphasis on student-centered learning, reduced pressure, and cooperation over competition all contribute to high levels of student engagement. By fostering intrinsic motivation and providing meaningful learning experiences, Finnish education encourages students to take an active role in their learning journey.
Finnish pedagogy focuses on creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment. Teachers act as facilitators rather than lecturers, guiding students to explore topics in depth and develop their own understanding. This approach encourages students to ask questions, seek answers, and learn from their mistakes, fostering a growth mindset that is essential for lifelong learning. The reduced emphasis on standardized testing and homework allows students to explore interests outside of academics, developing broader life skills through hobbies, sports, and social activities.
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=icon}
