Under flera års tid har den internationella undersökningen PISA visat att finska elever har bäst resultat i naturvetenskap, matematik och läsförståelse. Dessa resultat gjorde att vi begav oss till Finland för att ta reda på vilka faktorer som ligger bakom de finska elevernas goda prestationer i naturvetenskap. Med hjälp av lärarintervjuer, enkätstudier samt observationer ville vi få svar på våra frågor. Studien visar på flera möjliga framgångsfaktorer bl.a. lärarutbildningens utformning, goda resurser samt läroplanens tydliga målformuleringar.

There have been debates on the big differences in mathematics knowledge concerning pupils in Sweden and Finland. Especially, one common issue in the discussions of education is the Pisa test results, which take up in the media. In the Pisa research the Finnish pupils get through well year after year. Because of the discussions about the distinct school systems in Sweden and Finland, I found it interesting to investigate the divergence of the curriculums in these two countries. The main research questions asked were, what are the main differences and similarities in the Swedish and Finnish curriculums in primary school? Such as, is the assignment of primary school similar in Sweden and Finland? In my study I analyzed and compared by means of the curriculum especially mathe-matics teaching in primary schools in grade three in Sweden and in grade two Fin-land. I have concentrated on the knowledge differences and similarities in these two curriculums. I have as well studied how tasks of the schools and the values affect in curriculums. I have looked for the answers to my main questions by conducting a text analysis of the Swedish and the Finnish curriculums. The results indicate that in the Swedish and the Finnish curriculums there are similari-ties in the general curriculum as well in the democracy as in the assignment of the school. Several differences have also been found out concerning mathematics such as discrepancy between the objectives. Also another divergence can also be found out; The curriculum of the Finnish primary school is more detailed and legible than the curriculum of the Swedish primary school. Furthermore, my results show that level of mathematics in the primary school in grade three in Sweden is almost the same as the level in grade two in Finland which leads to another disparity in the mathematics edu-cation in these two countries.