The Finnish education model is inclusive and non-discriminatory, which is exactly what the NEP is vying towards as well. There has never been a better opportunity for everyone to receive a top-notch education than right now
It didn’t happen overnight in Finland and it won’t here either. But if Finland was able to pull it off, so can India. India can model its education system after Finland’s to lay a solid groundwork for future success and increase the likelihood of producing citizens who are both literate and self-aware.
The Finland Educational System (FES) has lessons and ideas for us at every level of schooling, from pre-K to graduate school. Here’s why India’s government is leaning towards Finnish education.
To give you an idea, there are more than 25,00,00,000 students in the country. And the fee structure is probably the most crucial factor in a country like India. Many cannot afford the cost of education, hampering a child’s growth. The Finnish education model is inclusive and non-discriminatory, which is exactly what the NEP is vying towards as well. There has never been a better opportunity for everyone to receive a top-notch education than right now. And this is the age when children of all socioeconomic backgrounds share a common openness to new experiences and ideas. Transparency and a win-win situation for all parties are ensured when fees are structured in accordance with the amount of income tax a person pays.
In Finland, local governments are in charge of educating and caring for children younger than school age. It’s no secret that public schools in India are struggling. The fact that guardians and parents are so adamant about sending their children to private schools says a lot about the quality of public schooling and other public institutions in the area. Regaining their former glory and student populations will require an emphasis on the holistic growth of children, the hiring of qualified educators, the implementation of a coherent educational framework and the maintenance of a functional physical campus.
In Finland, mandatory schooling begins at the age of seven. Up until that point, a child is forming a love of learning, cultivating an interest in the world and an array of emotions and laying the groundwork for a successful transition to formal education by developing the imagination and adaptability necessary for success. Education is required from Grade 1 through Grade 9 and it is both paced and provides multiple perspectives on key concepts so that students can draw their own conclusions based on their own observations and experiences. The student gains a more well-rounded perspective on the world as a result of this method, rather than just a shallower understanding of a single topic. As a result, students will be able to make natural connections between concepts and integrate various themes into a single lesson.
For effective knowledge transfer to occur, it is just as crucial to invest in the professional development of teachers as it is to educate students. Educators need to learn not only what to teach, but how to teach it. Teachers should be able to impart both theoretical and practical knowledge. Teachers who have a hand in deciding what students learn will have a deeper grasp of the material and be better able to convey it to their students. Teachers, schools and communities all benefit from having higher standards for entry-level teaching positions.
Without coming off as overly critical, Indian schools place a premium on students completing the required material, studying the provided materials and doing well on standardised tests. The issue with this system is that it conveys the message that all students must either put in excessive effort or memorise large amounts of material in order to succeed.
It’s time the Indian education system evolves, for the population at large. With so much to benefit from the Finnish curriculum and the government incorporating this educational system in India, it will play a pivotal role in the overall growth of the country.
