Teacher Effectiveness in Finland

Abstract

Effective teaching is understood very differently in Finland than in many other countries. In fact, it is not considered a relevant aspect of the education system. All Finnish schools are considered to be good, and all the teachers have the same high quality educational preparation. Thus, when it comes to considerations for determining or assessing teacher effectiveness, a culture of trust is a specific feature of the Finnish education system. Teachers and schools are trusted, both on the grassroot level by the parents, and on the governance level by the education authorities at the local and the national levels. This chapter explores teacher effectiveness in Finland.