What Does the Library Have to Do With It? The Success of Finnish Education in PISA Tests and the Role of School and Public Libraries

Abstract

The education system of Finland has drawn significant attention since the notable performance of Finnish students in the PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) tests, conducted triennially since the year 2000. The consistent stellar performance spanned all three areas of competency measured in 15 year-olds – reading, mathematical and scientific literacy – and was notable for the level of equity in educational achievement across all schools and the small tail of struggling students (*Kupari, 2011). (Editor’s note: An asterisk in the citation indicates an interview or personal communication). PISA focuses on higher order thinking, problem-solving, motivation and metacognition (OECD, 2010a); although Finland’s position has dropped slightly, it is still very close to the top of OECD nations’ achievement (Appendix 1).