As Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”. The dictionary defines education as “the act or process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgment, and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually for mature life.” (in cit. needed) Education plays a vital role in a country’s growth, both economically and socially. In most cases, an individual that is educated has a fair chance to get a job and avoid unemployment and poverty, can make better decisions and avoid criminal acts. Education is a fundamental aspect of development towards a country’s economic and social growth. This statement can be proved through the Finnish education system compared to that of the United States. …show more content…
Daycare and preschool are free to all kids because the citizens pay taxes to fund their early childhood education programs. Also, in Finland the children are not assessed or required to complete worksheets, they play for the entire day. Their emphasis is on playing and socializing at the younger ages. Comprehensive schooling is mandatory for all children between the ages of seven and sixteen. The governing body sends a compulsory education notice called "Oppivelvollisuusilmoitus" at the beginning of each year to inform parents of the local schools that their prospective kids can attend. Their classes are usually small, with no more than twenty students in a class. Their schools are nationally funded and there is no mandatory standardized testing, no competition or comparisons between students or schools. Finnish students are given one standardized test at the end of comprehensive school. (in