Education system of “Finland” is considered one of the best in the world. It always remains in the top ten international ratings. Despite of having a good educational system, the authorities there have decided to make a real revolution in their school system.
Finish authorities want to exclude school subjects from their curriculum. There will no longer be any classes in geography, math, literature, physics and history.
The head of the Department of Education in Helsinki, Marjo Kyllonen, explained the changes:
“There are schools that are instructing in the way out forefathers would have done it which was of advantage in the start of the 1900s — however the necessities are not the same, and we require something fit for the 21st century.”
Students will study and explore the events and phenomena in a combined format rather studying individual subjects. For example, the Second World War will be analyzed from the point of view of history, geography and math. Also, by taking the course “Working in a Cafe,” students will study the whole knowledge about the economics, English language & communication skills.
This system will be introduced for senior students, beginning at the age of 16. The better idea is that the students need to choose for themselves which topic, phenomenon or event they want to study, keeping in mind their future ambitions and their capabilities. By this way, no student will have to pass through an entire course about whom they all the time think to themselves “What do I need to know this for?”
There will also a change in the teacher-pupil communication. There will be no need for students to sit behind the school desks and wait desperately to be called upon to answer a question. Instead, they will work together in small groups to discuss and solve various problems.
Education Department of Finland encourages collective work that is why the changes will also affect teachers. The school reforms will require co-ordination among the teachers of different subjects. Almost 70% of teachers in Helsinki have already started their preparatory work on this new system for presenting information, and, as a result, they’ll get higher pays for this.
These changes are expected to be complete by 2020.
What are your thoughts about all these ideas? We’d hoping to hear your opinion, so let us know about your views.
