The “Finnish Experience” for Malaysian teachers

Petri Puhakka, Finland’s Ambassador to Malaysia
gave a speech at The “Finnish Experience” opening ceremony
Photo: Embassy of Finland in Kuala Lumpur

The “Finnish Experience”, a two-day programme for Malaysian teachers was held in Taiping, Malaysia from April 24-25, 2019.

Attended by 278 teachers from public and private education sectors, with a majority of them from Perak and Kuala Lumpur, the programme intented to provide teachers an opportunity to experience and study the factors making Finnish teaching implements successful in practice.

The programme gathered practical workshops and useful activities based on Finnish teaching medthods so that Malaysian teachers can acquire valuable insights on how a classroom is conducted in a Finnish school.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Petri Puhakka, Finland’s Ambassador to Malaysia believed that the “Finnish Experience” can stimulate participants to adapt Finnish education methods to suit thier own classrooms.

Prior to the event, Puhakka had an interview with Bernama International News toward the programme.

“I’m hoping once they leave, they will have a few ideas that they can try back home.
“You cannot just copy, but must adapt it to suit local surroundings and habits,” he told Bernama International News Service.

Also, Puhakka added that he wished to see more similar events like “Finnish Experience” in the future.

“Of course, we look forward to seeing more similar events in the future. More interactions are good, especially in facilitating the distribution of knowledge about one culture and another, what more when there is a clear indication of the interest towards the Finnish education system.

“I would be happy to see increased cooperation as well, for example, on a commercial basis. There are several actors like (Finnish) educational experts who would be more delighted to be here and share their area of expertise,” he said.

According to Petri Karjalainen, Founder at Finnish Education Solutions Sdn BHD, the “Finnish Experience” was co-organised by the State Education Department of Larut Matang and Selama District together with Finnish Education Solutions Sdn Bhd (FEDS) which was also main sponsor of the event. Apart from FEDS Sdn Bhd, other sponsors included Nokia mobile phones, Moomin Language School, Eduten and Qridi and Kide Science together with associate partners Kide Science, Invictus Leader, Rite education and Beed Education.

About Nilobon Bantoey

Journalist • ScandAsia Publishing Co., Ltd. • Bangkok Thailand

View all posts by Nilobon Bantoey

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