Why Finland's schools outperform most others across the developed world | 7.30

LINTON BESSER, EUROPE CORRESPONDENT: It's 8:00am on a cold morning in the suburbs of

Helsinki and these primary school children are getting ready for class.

This morning's lesson - ancient history.

KAIJA-LEENA ALATALO, TEACHER: Well, they are reading with pairs some texts about Egypt

and ancient life.

They are reading and then I'm going to ask something what did they find out from the

book?

I think we all are ready now.

LINTON BESSER: This is a school system that for years has been among the world's best.

KAIJA-LEENA ALATALO: And then what about this gold one?

(Student answering question)

LINTON BESSER: And yet these kids will spend half as much time in a classroom as Australian

children.

AIJA RINKINEN, MINISTERIAL ADVISER, EDUCATIONAL AFFAIRS: When you go to the first grade, when

you are seven years old, the amount of hours is 20 hours a week. It's the minimum and then

it gets more hours the older you get.

But it's still less than in many countries in Europe or in the world.

LINTON BESSER: In Finland, it's individual teachers who decide how the curriculum is