Which Nation Boasts the Highest Student Achievement?

America muddles through education reform, No Child Left Behind, and endless testing all the while still flailing globally to be ranked one of the top effective education systems.  We should stop to take a look at someone who has walked in our shoes–Finland.  Today Finland is ranked as the top educational system in the world.  They were not always so highly admired.  In the early 1970’s they struggled with education reform similar to the U.S.  Today, they are doing several things which have produced amazing results.  Teaching is an honored profession–only 10 percent of teachers applying for an education degree are accepted.  Finland has a national common curriculum which is closely adhered to.  They emphasize creative problem solving.  Struggling learners are assigned tutors for remediation.  Because a number of students in grades 7-9 begin to struggle, more time and money is spent with these students.  Having the bottom 10 percent of the nation dominate students from any other nation in the world.  The world should take the time to study the strategies of Finland’s educational system especially because the lowest 10% of their students exceed other students globally.