Finnish education in Peru

Finnish Education in Lima, Peru

Lima has no branded Finnish curriculum school, but Peru's national curriculum has been built around competencies since 2009, giving Finnish pedagogy a curriculum that already speaks a similar language.

In brief

Peru's Currículo Nacional de la Educación Básica, run by the Ministry of Education (Minedu), has been organised around competencies, or saber hacer, since a 2009 redesign, well before many comparable reforms elsewhere in Latin America.
Minedu has been working with regions between 2023 and 2025 toward a more decentralised, STEAM-oriented curriculum reflecting local context, an ongoing process rather than a single completed reform.
No HEI Schools, CCE Finland or similar branded Finnish curriculum provider currently operates in Lima.
Lima's international schools, including Colegio Peruano Británico and Markham College, follow IB or Cambridge programmes, with fees typically ranging from around USD 8,000 to 28,000 a year, plus entrance fees of up to USD 12,000 at some schools.

A curriculum already framed around competencies

Peru redesigned its national curriculum around competencies, described locally as saber hacer or knowing how to do, back in 2009, earlier than many neighbouring countries. Minedu has continued that direction between 2023 and 2025, working with regional authorities toward a more decentralised, STEAM-oriented approach that reflects local context. That existing competency framing gives Finnish phenomenon-based methods a curriculum in Lima that is already pointed in a compatible direction, even without a Finnish-branded school in place.

Assessment and the primary years

Peru measures reading and maths through the Evaluación Nacional de Logros de Aprendizaje, tested by census in grade 4 and by sample in grade 6, a moderate-stakes check rather than a high-pressure tracking exam. That leaves room in Lima's primary classrooms for the kind of formative, low-stakes assessment Finnish pedagogy relies on, rather than frequent formal grading.

Lima's international school sector

Families outside the state system in Lima typically choose from schools such as Colegio Peruano Británico, Markham College, Cambridge College Lima and Colegio Franklin D. Roosevelt, following IB, Cambridge or American pathways. Annual fees generally run from around USD 8,000 to 28,000, with some schools also charging an entrance fee of up to USD 12,000. None currently offers a Finnish curriculum track, leaving an opening for a school considering Finnish pedagogy affiliation.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a Finnish curriculum school in Lima?

Not currently. No HEI Schools, CCE Finland or comparable branded Finnish curriculum provider operates in Lima.

Is Peru's curriculum already competency-based?

Yes. Peru's national curriculum has been organised around competencies since a 2009 redesign, and Minedu has continued refining that approach through 2023 to 2025.

How much do Lima's international schools cost?

Fees typically range from around USD 8,000 to 28,000 a year, with some schools charging an additional entrance fee of up to USD 12,000.

Bring Finnish pedagogy to your school

OPPI affiliates a selective cohort of schools each year for its K-5 Finnish-pedagogy programme, backed by Education Finland. Tell us about your school and our team will reach out.

Backed by Education Finland. Over 20 schools have already affiliated, including DPS, Radcliffe and Sanctus. Places in each cohort are limited.

Apply to the affiliation cohort →