Cambridge Education Lab’s first delegation of academicians on their learning tour to Finland, 2023
Many of us have lived through the rigours of academic systems that were designed to “prepare us for the world”. While the objective behind this methodology may have been noble, what it also perpetuated was a learning culture that promoted rat-races. Studies have shown that examinations and competitive evaluation techniques create anxiety and stress in students for prolonged periods of time, so much so that they carry this psychological burden well into adulthood. However, things are slowly changing and if anything, the Finland Education System shows us that long lasting, deeply meaningful changes are possible, especially those that fuel love and natural instinct for learning.
Finland has, indisputably, the best education system in the world and here are the top reasons why they do:
Transparency and Trust: The system was one of the first in the world to realise that students must participate and have a say in what they learn, how they learn and when they learn it. Classrooms entertain dialogue instead of discourse and children are taught to express their interests and observations in a manner that fosters confidence and creativity. Teachers adopt methods to build trust and show students that they have an equal say in the teaching/learning process. Learning and teaching is a collaborative effort in this system where parents, teachers and students have their opinions well represented.
Social Equity: In Finland, schools are not good or better depending on their areas and the model of education (public or private) does not dictate the quality of it. Every school is funded equally and resources are distributed in such a manner that all students, no matter their financial status, can enjoy a deeply nourishing and nurturing learning ecosystem.
Scrapping Standardised Testing: The Hare and The Tortoise story taught us one thing - you cannot compare apples to oranges. While our starting points in life may all be the same, the paths that each of us have to endeavour are vastly different. Scrapping standardised testing is a way to encourage and foster unique skills and develop confident students who are assured of their place in the world. Besides, it is high time that we all realise that standardised testing causes more harm than good!
Teachers Run the Course: When teachers are given the space to make learned decisions for their students without systemic interference, teaching becomes an extension of a natural order. In Finland, teachers are given free reign over how they want to build their classroom interactions and this includes classroom management, classroom instruction, curriculum and classroom philosophy.
Upskilling and Professional Development Opportunities: Learning is a continuous process and teachers in Finland know this extremely well. They are some of the most well trained and well rounded teachers in the world as they are given every opportunity to scale their learning curve. Finnish teachers are encouraged to participate in growing their portfolio of knowledge by attending various professional development courses and workshops.
Participants from our 2023 delegation experiencing an active Mathematics class at a Finnish School.
Want to see first hand how revolutionary changes in your education system can be implemented? Join us on our mission to Finland in May, 2024! Registrations now open - click here to tag along.