Both Finland and we did not achieve this overnight. However, if Finland could pull it off, so can we. India can learn from Finland's experience in building a solid foundation for a fruitful future and a better chance of producing literate, conscious, and inquisitive individuals by following the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020's baby steps to improve education throughout the nation. This will take us closer in bringing the idea and implementation of Finnish Education in India.  

"Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think," said Albert Einstein. 

By adopting a new pedagogical structure of instruction that emphasizes a child's holistic development and tries to do away with the rote culture, the NEP did manage to accomplish some significant feats. 

But the Finland Education System (FES), from early childhood education to bachelor's and master's degrees, has a takeaway that we can adapt to or be inspired by at each stage. 

Education and Fees are Flexible 

First off, there are more than 25 crore students in the nation. The fee structure is likely the most crucial factor in a nation like India. In Finland, early education costs are determined by the family's income. Everyone has the opportunity to have access to the best education at this time. And regardless of their socioeconomic status, this is the time in childhood when all children are equally receptive and all children's creative faculties are at their peak. 

It will be transparent and ensure that everyone benefits if fees are structured in accordance with how much income tax a person pays. 

A student can select their own path through the educational system in accordance with FES based on their interests. Additionally, they are free to choose not to pursue a bachelor's degree at universities and instead pursue vocational training in the chosen profession. More talent will be produced in India than ever before thanks to the flexible nature of education and the freedom and responsibility to choose their education. All are for education and education is for all should be India's national motto. 

Boost the credibility of public schools 

Early childhood education and care for children who are not yet in school are the responsibility of local authorities in Finland. It is well known that government-run schools in India are in terrible shape. The fact that guardians and parents are adamant about enrolling their kids in private schools says a lot about the state of municipally run schools and institutions. It will take a lot of effort to restore the lost glory and lost students of these schools, but qualified teachers, a well-structured educational system, and a good working infrastructure will help a lot. 

Out of the over 3,500 schools in Finland, it is noteworthy that there are no private schools. They have no reliance on private schools. 

Sadly, that is not the case in India. To improve the dependability and credibility of government-run schools, we must strengthen and raise the standards for teaching students. 

Change the compulsory education phase 

In Finland, children must attend school until they are seven years old. A student is becoming accustomed to learning up until that point, cultivating curiosity and emotions, and creating a solid foundation by developing minds that are creative and adaptable enough to handle formal education. The compulsory comprehensive education is nine years long, from Class 1 to Class 9, and it paces the learning levels and offers multiple points of view for concepts that enable a student to reach their own conclusions by making various observations and from various angles. 

A minimum educational requirement for teachers should also be supported because it will eventually benefit both students and educational institutions. 

Get rid of rote culture and focus on application   

Without being overly critical, Indian schools place a strong emphasis on following the curriculum, mastering textbook material, and ultimately performing well on exams. The issue with this type of setup is that it conveys the idea that all students must work extremely hard or cram their classes in order to succeed. Exam success becomes the ultimate goal, and achieving high marks is viewed as success. The objective is to give students knowledge that they can use in their daily lives, not to cram information into their brains. It is only an evolution; the Finnish system is not a revolution. India needs to modernize its own system as well.