Finland has consistently ranked high in the PISA study, which compares national educational systems internationally, although in the recent years Finland has been displaced from the very top. In the 2012 study, Finland ranked sixth in reading, twelfth in mathematics and fifth in science, while back in the 2003 study Finland was first in both science and reading and second in mathematics. Finland's tertiary Education has moreover been ranked first by the World Economic Forum.

 The teachers and Principals I spoke with were rather bemused at their world recognition for results based on the PISA results because the Finnish schools are currently preparing for a major redevelopment of their curriculum . 

Their national core curriculum for compulsory education is developed by the Finnish National Board of Education. It contains the objectives and core contents of different subjects, as well as the “ 16 Finnish education in a nutshell principles” of pupil assessment, special needs education, pupil welfare and educational guidance. The principles of what constitutes a good learning environment, working approaches as well as the concept of learning are also addressed in the core curriculum.

The new curriculum is radically different from the one they have had for the last 10 years.  The previous one was very content based, more suited to the industrial model of education.  The new curriculum professes to better prepare Finnish children for the changing world, the impact of globalisation and the challenges for a sustainable future. 

The documentation I read talks of building on the current systems strengths of having-

"clear standards, a well functioning curriculum system, a culture of cooperation and trust and competent teachers with high ethical orientation and commitment"

Mrs. Irmelí Halinen, Head of Curriculum Development writes about the challenges the curriculum hopes to address :

school culture; the role of students; pedagogics; the use of digital learning environments; the quality of learning processes and results

At school based level, Principals and other education providers are drawing up their own curricula within the framework of the national core curriculum. While there is room for local or regional interpretations, all local curricula must, however, define the values, underlying principles, as well as general educational and teaching objectives.

Sound familiar?

For me , the curriculum they were describing was very much our world admired New Zealand curriculum!