A Principled, Personalized, Trusting, and Child-Centric Early Childhood Education and Care System in Finland

• In Event: 45.013 - The Early Advantage: Building Systems That Work for Young Children

Abstract

This in-depth case study uses a theory of change and systems thinking approach to explore how services and infrastructure interact to produce a cohesive ECEC system in Finland. Finland was chosen as one of six focus countries demonstrating academic excellence, geographical/cultural diversity and ingenuity in ECEC systems based on data from PISA results and The Economist Intelligence Unit. On PISA 2015, Finland scored significantly higher than the United States in reading, mathematics and science. In Starting Well: Benchmarking Early Education Across the World, a 2012 report from The Economist Intelligence Unit assessing ECEC social context, availability, affordability and quality in 45 countries, Finland was ranked first for quality and overall. The United States was ranked 22nd for quality and 24th overall.

In Finland, the right to equitable and quality ECEC is a cultural imperative as part of a world-class commitment to welfare and education. This case study of Finland’s ECEC system addresses questions such as: What does the country perceive its commitment to young children to be, and what contextual variables evoke this stance? What ECEC policies and frameworks are in place, and what conditions fostered their development/evolution? What ECEC coordinating mechanisms does the country have in place, and what is the nature of their authority and effectiveness? To what extent is the ECEC system effective, in terms of quality, equity and sustainability?

This qualitative case study provides a descriptive picture of the state of ECEC in Finland by incorporating data from a wide range of sources, such as large-scale surveys, policy documents, existing country reports and interview protocols. It synthesizes anticipated and current efforts, challenges and emerging trends. It also analyzes causes and motivations and provides explanatory information regarding underlying principles and strategies that may or may not make the country experience transportable. Findings clarify the key elements of the ECEC system in Finland and provide lessons for ECEC system development and improvement in the United States.

This individual country case study, and five others like it, provide the basis for the cross-cutting analysis that is the focus of this session. Additional products of this research include a set of policy and practice briefs for each country, a cross-country policy brief and website and electronic media.

Author

• Kristiina P. Kumpulainen, University of Helsinki