Job Discussion Forums

[nomad soul]

‘Finland’s secret to success is teachers’, Abu Dhabi forum hears
By Roberta Pennington, The National | October 5, 2016
Source: http://www.thenational.ae/uae/education/finlands-secret-to-success-is-teachers-abu-dhabi-forum-hears

ABU DHABI // Finland’s education system has long been held up as the best in the world. Finnish pupils consistently rank among the top performers in international assessments, despite not starting school until they are seven years old. They spend less time in the classroom – three to four hours a day for primary schoolchildren – compared with most countries, do not sit national standardised tests and are given more free time to play.

The secret to their success is their teachers, said Sanni Grahn-Laasonen, Finland’s minister of education and culture, in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. "Teachers are highly respected, highly valued professionals in Finland, Ms Grahn-Laasonen said. "The whole society trusts our teachers."

Children grow up dreaming of becoming teachers and the competition for education programmes in university is so competitive that only one in 10 applicants is admitted. All teachers in Finland hold a master’s degree.

"School days are very short but the pedagogy is very high," said Ms Grahn-Laasonen. "We have excellent learning outcomes from this model where we want to let children be children – play and have fun, be creative."

Finnish teachers earn an average monthly salary of between Dh12,880 and Dh17,150. "But that’s not the main reason why people want to be teachers," said Ms Grahn-Laasonen. "It’s because it’s so highly respected in Finnish society, the teacher’s profession. It’s something that’s very important. What could be more important in life than to teach children and young people, because they are the future."

Ms Grahn-Laasonen was speaking at the Qudwa Teachers’ Forum in the capital on Wednesday, which was held to mark Unesco’s World Teachers’ Day.

She joined other education leaders, including Hussain Al Hammadi, the Minister of Education, and Abu Dhabi Education Council director-general Dr Ali Al Nuaimi, in addressing 3,500 public school teachers. The inaugural forum was hosted under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, the Ministry of Education and ADEC.

"This forum highlights the crucial role that teachers play in the transformation of the UAE education sector, which the Ministry of Education is leading," Mr Al Hammadi said. "Our role at the ministry is to ensure that we have qualified teachers that are trained to use a culture of innovation to lead their students. This forum was important to recognise excellence in teaching in the UAE and achieve understanding and engagement from teachers to our mission."

Mr Al Hammadi called on retired and working professionals to consider volunteering their time in schools to teach pupils about their area of expertise. "The idea is to get the knowledge and the practical experience to the student," he said.

He encouraged business owners, doctors, engineers and other professionals from the public and private sector to register for the Teach for UAE programme through the ministry’s website. Retirees are welcome to share their knowledge with pupils, Mr Al Hammadi said.

Dr Al Nuaimi, director-general of ADEC, said he looked forward to the day when society could appreciate teachers as much as they are valued abroad in places such as Finland. "Be respectful and impose your respect on the people," he said. "Be distinguished as a teacher. We want to develop our education system to be the best, and the cornerstone is the teacher."

Twenty teachers selected by the ministry and Adec were honoured with a lifetime achievement award, which was presented by Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, deputy chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council.

Sheikh Mohammed said in a statement that World Teachers’ Day "reflects an absolute faith in the value of teachers and their vital role in the progress of nations". "Innovation and creativity are essential components within the UAE’s strategy to build a sustainable, knowledge-based economy that serves current and future generations. This journey begins in the classroom, where teachers nurture strategic thinking and problem-solving skills."

"This is one of the reasons the UAE supports teachers as partners in building the future of our nation. Only by investing in education will we be able to lay the foundations of a post-oil economy."

(End of article)

[Dr X]

The Finnish model of education cannot be imported to the UAE environment, and will not happen.

I will tell you why:

Finland’s school system is a product of its unique culture. Just as the majlis system found in many Arab countries reflects traditional values, so too Finland’s educational system reflects its own societal values.Thus, the Finnish phenomenon is largely unexportable.
Finland provides three years of maternity leave and subsidised daycare to parents and preschool for all five-year-olds.
Finns are, by and large, practical people. In the 1970s, public schools were organised into one system with a national curriculum that provided guidelines not prescriptions.
In 1979, it was decided that every teacher earn a fifth-year master’s degree in theory and practice. As a result, schoolteachers achieved equal professional status with doctors and lawyers.

In comparing Finland to the UAE in terms of “power distance", Finland appears to favour independence and egalitarianism, and employee consultation in decision-making.In contrast, Emiratis tend to accept a social hierarchy and deference to figures of authority.

The UAE is a collectivist society in that its members strongly associate themselves with the larger community, sometimes subsuming their personal wishes for the greater good of the group.
In contrast, Finland sometimes favours the individual’s wishes and desires above the family or wider community.

In summary, there is much to be learned from the way Finland organises its society and important institutions but we all need to fully understand the complexity and uniqueness that lies at the heart of its success.
Dr Peter J Hatherley-Greene is director of learning at Emarise
http://www.thenational.ae/opinion/comment/why-finnish-model-of-education-cannot-be-imported-to-the-uae

[veiledsentiments]

Even if they filled their schools with Finnish teachers, things would little change as stated by Dr X's source. The Gulf is not a country with a tradition of education nor the opinion that it is important...

Not a criticism, but just a fact. When I first arrived in the Gulf in the mid 80's, only about 10-20% of my students had a literate parent, almost none had a literate mother. That was almost 30 years ago, so the children of that first large generation to be educated are just starting to get to the universities.

It remains to be seen how much this will change the system. But it will never be Finland. (nor will anywhere else likely be able to replicate it)

VS

[nomad soul]

[veiledsentiments]

[Gulezar]

[Dr X]