Have you heard about Finland’s remarkable education transformation? Finland, a Nordic country known for its stunning natural beauty, once faced a high suicide rate that garnered global attention. Instead of giving up, Finland bravely revolutionized its education system.
In the past, Finland’s high student suicide rates raised alarms for the government. They realized that an education system overly focused on academic achievement and competitiveness created immense pressure on students. This crisis prompted Finland to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of its education system.
One revolutionary step Finland took was shifting the focus of education from solely pursuing academic success to developing students’ character. Emotional intelligence, social skills, and adaptability were seen as equally important as intellectual intelligence. Students were taught values like empathy, cooperation, and problem-solving skills.
The curriculum in Finland is designed to be enjoyable and relevant to students’ lives. Lessons are delivered interactively, engaging students actively. Students are also given the freedom to explore their interests and talents, making the learning process more meaningful and motivating.
In addition to focusing on character development, the teaching profession in Finland is highly respected. The selection process for teachers is rigorous, and they receive intensive training. Teachers are given autonomy to develop innovative teaching methods tailored to students’ needs. This sense of appreciation and high motivation among teachers leads to them giving their best for students.
Rather than fostering intense competition, Finland encourages students and teachers to collaborate. Collaboration is seen as the key to success in facing real-world challenges. Finland is committed to providing equal access to education for all students, regardless of their socioeconomic background. Schools in Finland prioritize inclusive success, allowing students with special needs to learn alongside their peers. With an inclusive learning environment, every student is supported to achieve their full potential.
Meanwhile, in Indonesia, we still face various challenges in education, such as the quality gap between urban and rural areas, low literacy and numeracy rates, and the lack of guaranteed teacher welfare. Teachers seem to not have a proper place yet, with facilities, salaries, and benefits not being fully considered. Additionally, the lack of serious mentoring for teachers in enhancing dedication and innovative teaching makes teachers constantly struggle with the education system.
Finland’s success provides valuable lessons for Indonesia, emphasizing the need to focus on character development, design relevant curricula, improve teacher quality, encourage collaboration, and ensure equal access to education. Finland’s education transformation proves that with strong commitment and sound policies, we can create a quality education system that produces intelligent, creative, and character-driven young generations. It seems that Indonesia indeed needs to learn from Finland’s success and undertake comprehensive education reform.