The Foundation
It all starts from our primary schools and daycare. In most parts of the world, preschools prepare kids for formal school by arming them with basic skills of reading and writing.
It is the preparation for grade 1, which is the preparation for grade 2, which is the preparation for next grade and so on, ultimately leading to preparation for college.
It’s like we are all in a rush to send our kids to the best college possible and somehow that will magically solve all the life’s problems.
We do not pause to understand what is the specific value that the preschool or primary education adds.
Finland serves a unique example where kids do not start school until they are seven. The schools prioritize teaching more important life skills like learning how to make friends and respect others, or dressing themselves competently over reading words or writing letters.
The main goal of the Finnish system is to make sure that the children are happy and responsible individuals.
And the kids do this through play. It’s not just random play, it’s serious business, (at least for the teachers).
Researchers point out that a carefully organised playtime helps develop qualities such as attention-span, perseverance, concentration and problem solving, which are better predictors of success as compared to ‘the age when the kid started to read.’
Because of such interventions Finland has emerged as a global leader in education. The changes in primary education reflect as kids grow into their teenage years. Finnish pupils produced some of the world’s highest scores in Maths, Science and Reading.
Finland is taking the approach further by eradicating subjects from schooling.
This piece from The Guardian talks about how do they manage to do all of this — both in its spirit and implementation.
Check it out —
No grammar schools, lots of play: the secrets of Europe’s top education system
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