Are you thinking of improving student achievement

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Are you thinking of improving student
achievement?
Pasi Sahlberg Leadership for sustainable
innovation The 3rd International Summit and iNet
Conference for Leadership in Education Boston,
November 3, 2006
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• System-wide excellence in student learning is
  attainable at reasonable cost, using education
  policies differing from common market-oriented
  reform strategies.

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Paradox of educational change

• It aint what you dont know that gets you into
  trouble.

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Paradox of educational change
It aint what you dont know that gets you into
trouble.
It is what you know for sure that just aint so.
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Paradox of educational change
It aint what you dont know that gets you into
trouble.
It is what you know for sure that just aint so.
Al Gore in The Inconvenient Truth 2006
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Globalization and education reforms
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Globalization and education reforms
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Globalization and education reforms
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Globalization and education reforms
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Globalization and education reforms
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Think What happens if?
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Finland is an interesting example
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Earlier reputation -
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Earlier reputation - Nothing special!
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Progress
Participation
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Development of level of education among adult
population (15 years and older) in Finland
between 1960 and 2005
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Development of level of education among adult
population (15 years and older) in Finland
between 1960 and 2005
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Development of level of education among adult
population (15 years and older) in Finland
between 1960 and 2005
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Development of level of education among adult
population (15 years and older) in Finland
between 1960 and 2005
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Progress
Learning
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Students performance in mathematics
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Students performance in mathematics
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Students performance in mathematics
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Students performance in mathematics
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Progress
Equity
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Variation in student performance in mathematics
Variation of performance within schools
Source PISA 2003 (OECD, 2004)
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Variation in student performance in mathematics
Variation of performance within schools
Variation of performance between schools
Source PISA 2003 (OECD, 2004)
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Variation in student performance in mathematics
Variation of performance within schools
Variation of performance between schools
Variation explained by socio-economic level of
students and schools
Source PISA 2003 (OECD, 2004)
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Progress
Cost
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Relationship between cumulative expenditure per
student between 6 and 15 years in 2002 (OECD,
2005) and PISA performance in mathematics at age
15 in 2003 (OECD, 2004)
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Differing strategies
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Differing strategies

• Investing in equity

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Differing strategies

• Investing in equity
• Putting learning and caring first

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Differing strategies

• Investing in equity
• Putting learning and caring first
• Trusting teachers - respecting autonomy

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Differing strategies

• Investing in equity
• Putting learning and caring first
• Trusting teachers - respecting autonomy
• Building intelligent accountability

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Differing strategies

• Investing in equity
• Putting learning and caring first
• Trusting teachers - respecting autonomy
• Building intelligent accountability
• Valuing flexibility, risk-taking and creativity

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Differing strategies

• Investing in equity
• Putting learning and caring first
• Trusting teachers - respecting autonomy
• Building intelligent accountability
• Valuing flexibility, risk-taking and creativity
• Lateral capacity building and learning

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Differing strategies

• Investing in equity
• Putting learning and caring first
• Trusting teachers - respecting autonomy
• Building intelligent accountability
• Valuing flexibility, risk-taking and creativity
• Lateral capacity building and learning
• Professional school leadership

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Think What is transferable?
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Thank you!
Education policies for raising student learning
The Finnish approach (Journal of Education
Policy, 2007)
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