Education is an important thing that can influence the future of a country. Since education has become the need of people all around the world, each country in this world has education system. According to BBC News, Finland has the best education system in global ranking. One aspect that makes Finland’s education system become the best one is its school system. Actually, the school system in Finland has several similarities with our country, Indonesia. However, the school system of both countries still has a great number of differences.
The first similarity of the school system in both countries is the students. Both countries have students with various backgrounds. Stated on its official website, “Finland receives international students from all over the world”. It means that the students in Finland have different culture backgrounds. All students are treated in the same way even though they have different backgrounds. Indonesia has students with various backgrounds just like Finland. The students in our country also come from different backgrounds and culture. There are international students in Indonesia as well. Not only have various backgrounds, but the students of these two countries also have various intelligences. Both Finland and Indonesia do not categorize their students based on their background and intelligence so the students will get the same treatments.
Another similarity is the years of compulsory education. The number of compulsory education in Finland is the same as in Indonesia. Based on Wikipedia, the compulsory education in Finland takes place for nine years. Similarly, the students in Indonesia are required to do a nine-year compulsory education. In addition, the age when students begin their school in both countries is similar. As quoted from Finland embassy official website, the students enter their first school when they are seven and do the compulsory education until they are 16. Equally, the students in Indonesia also experience the same thing.
Despite of those similarities, the school system of these two countries is quite different. They have different classroom situation. Teaching method used in Finland is learner-centered instruction while in Indonesia teacher-centered instruction is widely used. In the learner-centered instruction, the students have a major role in the classroom. As quoted from Richards and Rodgers, “learners have a role as the processor, performer, initiator and problem solver.” In contrast, in the teacher-centered instruction, teacher becomes the main source of knowledge and direction in the classroom. The teacher has a role as the main counselor, model, and director. Not only have different teaching method, but both countries also have different learning situation. The learning situation in Finland is less formal than in Indonesia. The students in Finland do not wear uniforms whereas the students in our country wear uniforms. The classroom situation in Finland is also more relax than the situation is Indonesia. The students in Indonesia are usually afraid to express their ideas. The number of students also influences the classroom situation. In Indonesia, generally, there are 40 students in a class but in Finland, there are only fewer than 20 students in a class.
Another difference is the education system itself. Finland has education system with no tuition fee. The tuition fee is free since the students enter their first school until they finish their school. In a different way, students in Indonesia only get free tuition fee during their compulsory education. The education levels of both countries are also different. Wikipedia stated “The present Finnish education system consists of daycare programs (for babies and toddlers) and a one-year "pre-school" (or kindergarten for six-year-olds); a nine-year compulsory basic comprehensive school (starting at age seven and ending at the age of fifteen); post-compulsory secondary general academic and vocational education; higher education (University and University of Applied Sciences); and adult (lifelong, continuing) education.” Differently, based on Wikipedia, the education levels in Indonesia are divided into pre-school education (PAUD starting at age two and ending at the age of four), playgroup (TK), six years of elementary school, three years of junior high school, three years of senior high school and higher education (University, Institute and Polytechnics). Each country also has different assessment. In Finland, students are not assigned to do examination until they are sixteen, while in Indonesia, students in the last year of elementary school, junior high school and senior high school are required to do the national examination.
The next different thing is the schedule. The students in Finland only spendfive hours a day in school while the students in our country spend seven hours a day in school. Moreover, the students in Finland do not start their school as early as Indonesian students do. The students in our country start their school at six thirty in the morning. The number of the school days spent in a year in Finland is very contrast with Indonesia. According to Kompas, the students in Finland only spend 190 days per year. It is very contrast with the students in our country who spend220 days per year. The number of holiday is also different. On the official website of Finland embassy, it is stated that the students will get Christmas and Easter holiday, ten weeks holiday during the summer, and two until five days holidays in autumns. The students in Indonesia will get three main holidays: new school year holiday, mid-term holiday, and Eid holiday.
The last different thing is the facilities. Finland provides many facilities for the students. In learning process, the students use various media. They use internet, electronic media, and also technology. Indonesia also does the same, but sometimes it has not operated optimally. In our country, the use of internet and technology is not as wide as in Finland. Many students and even teachers cannot operate the technology or internet. The students in Finland are offered internet access which is free and easy. They can access it every time and everywhere. In contrast, Indonesia has not provided free and easy internet access yet. The students have to pay for the internet if they want to use it. Besides, the students in Finland also get free lunch while the students here do not.
To sum up, the school system in Finland and Indonesia has the similar type of students and years of the compulsory education. Yet, both countries have different classroom situation, education system, schedule and facilities. We cannot say that one of these countries is better than the other. As two countries that concerned with the education, both countries have performed their commitment to enhance their education system. Despite of those similarities and differences, both countries have unique and good education system.
References:
1. http://m.bbc.com/news/education-20498356
2. http://www.finland.or.id
3. Richards, J. C., & Rodgers, T.S (2001). Approaches and Method in Language Teaching.
4. http://edukasi.kompasiana.com/2013/02/16/membandingkan-sistem-pendidikan-finlandia-dengan-sistem-sistem-pendidikan-indonesia-534276.html
5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Finland
6. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Indonesia
7. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_holiday
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