After the release of PISA scores in 2007, in which Finland had the top scores, questions have been raised to pinpoint the key factor behind Finland's success in basic education. The scores from Finland are not only high but are also marked with a relatively low standard deviation. Finland's students are well educated and the results are uniform throughout the country. Israel, whose students captured the 39th spot, offers an answer:

"Teacher salaries seem to explain Finnish students’ success, Israeli mediocrity"

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