Finnish School Education Attracts Visitors from Abroad

​On Tuesday morning, the six graders' physics class at Turun normaalikoulu school began as usual with the checking of the homework.  The pupils answered readily when their teacher asked questions about the differences between  renewable and non-renewable energy sources. The only exception was the four principals from the Netherlands at the back of the class, who followed the teaching, made notes and took pictures.

– It is interesting to see what the Finnish teachers do differently compared with Netherlands. We want to know what their secret is as the PISA results are so high, said Henriet Rosman and Frans Laarakker while following the class.

The Study Visit group was comprised of 23 principals and special education teachers from the Netherlands. The delegation came to Turku to find inspiration, knowledge and ideas which they can utilise in their own schools. At the Turun normaalikoulu school, commonly known as Norssi, the visitors were interested in how the teacher training is organised, among other things.

– I have brought groups to Turun normaalikoulu previously as well and they have all thought that the school is very interesting. We can learn from how the teacher students develop their expertise by training in schools. Here, the teachers also take the children's different cultural backgrounds well into account, said Group Leader André Nijsen.

Integration of the Special Needs Students into Ordinary Class Received Praise

In the Netherlands,  students with special needs used to be placed in their own schools, but nowadays special education is also available in ordinary schools. The visiting special education teachers were interested in seeing how the education is organised at Norssi.

– In Finland, teachers are prepared to solve problems in the classroom and the students with special needs do not necessarily have to be placed in their own separate group. This is really fascinating, said Nijsen.

The visitors also wanted to see how bilingual education is organised and learn about the antibullying program. Nijsen thinks that the Finnish teachers have a good readiness for teaching in two languages.

– It was great to hear a lecture on the world famous KiVa Antibullying Program, as bullying is a problem in the Netherlands as well. Eight of the principals in the group are considering the implementation of the Program in their own schools. In the Netherlands, there are already 200 schools which are using the KiVa Program, revealed Nijsen.

According to the leader of the Dutch delegation, André Nijsen, the Turun normaalikoulu school has a nice atmosphere where teachers help each other and respect the children.

PISA Success Behind the Study Visits

The Study Visits are part of the transnational education of the University of Turku and are realised together with the Finland University. Finland University is a transnational education company founded by the Universities of Turku, Tampere and Eastern Finland, and it markets and sells the international education services of the three Universities.

– During a semester, about 3–4 groups visit us wanting to learn about Finish education.  We have received visitors from Japan, Canada, Argentina, China, and Thailand as well as from several European countries, says International Officer Anna Alasuutari.

The groups consisting of principals and teachers visit the Turun normaalikoulu school and the Faculty of Education for one or two days.  Often, curiosity towards the Finnish PISA success is what sparks the Study Visits. As for the University of Turku, these visits create valuable international contacts.

– Some of the groups visit us regularly. At best, new co-operation related to transnational education or research is formed on the basis of the visits. At the moment, we are planning to increase collaboration with Thailand and Oman, says Alasuutari.

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Text and photos: Jenni Valta
Translation: Mari Ratia