Quality Assurance and Evaluation (QAE) in Finnish Compulsory Schooling: A National Model or Just Unintended Effects of Radical Decentralisation?

Autor/inn/en	Simola, Hannu; Rinne, Risto; Varjo, Janne; Pitkanen, Hannele; Kauko, Jaakko
Titel	Quality Assurance and Evaluation (QAE) in Finnish Compulsory Schooling: A National Model or Just Unintended Effects of Radical Decentralisation?
Quelle	In: Journal of Education Policy, 24 (2009) 2, S.163-178 (16 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0268-0939
Schlagwörter	Quality Control; Educational Change; Administrative Organization; Educational Testing; Foreign Countries; Educational Quality; Educational Philosophy; Evaluation Methods; Comparative Analysis; Public Education; Student Evaluation; Educational Assessment; Educational Principles; Policy Analysis; Educational Policy; Public Policy; Finland + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Qualitätskontrolle; Bildungsreform; Ausland; Quality of education; Bildungsqualität; Bildungsphilosophie; Erziehungsphilosophie; Öffentliche Erziehung; Schulnote; Studentische Bewertung; Education; assessment; Bewertungssystem; Bildungsprinzip; Politikfeldanalyse; Politics of education; Bildungspolitik; Öffentliche Ordnung; Finnland
Abstract	This article traces quality assurance and evaluation (QAE) developments in Finnish compulsory schooling. The central question is this: Is there a Finnish model of QAE? We conclude that it may be a rhetorical overstatement to speak about a specific Finnish 'Model' of QAE in a strong sense. However, neither is it valid to conclude that what happens in Finnish QAE merely reflects the unintended effects of radical decentralisation. The Finnish consensus on certain issues in QAE could be characterised as silent, and based on antipathy rather than on conscious and articulated principles. Finnish hostility towards ranking, combined with a bureaucratic tradition and a developmental approach to QAE strengthened by radical municipal autonomy, has constructed two national and local embedded policies that have been rather effective in resisting a trans-national policy of testing and ranking. It is significant, however, that both represent a combination of conscious, unintended and contingent factors. (Contains 3 notes.) (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10