Punjab teachers, inspired by Finnish training, advocate for gender-neutral life skills and educational reforms.
Chandigarh: A transformative initiative has emerged, with 72 teachers from Punjab, recently returned from an intensive training program in Finland, proposing to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann the introduction of gender-neutral life-skill classes in primary schools across the state.
The teachers were inspired by the progressive Finnish model of education, where the first-grade students are trained in essential life skills, such as cleaning, cooking, and carpentry. There is no gender bias because, according to the Finnish people, tasks such as cooking should not be considered solely for women, and carpentry is not only for men to do, thus establishing equality and encouraging children to view skills as universal rather than gendered.
Vandana Heer, a primary school teacher from Hoshiarpur, was excited about the changes that their Finnish training had inspired.
“Our approach to teaching has changed; our way of problem solving has completely changed. We now make children search or explore things physically and as a result, they start learning faster. People are seeking admission for their children in schools here by saying that they want their children to be taught by Finland-returned teachers.”
Sunita Rani, another primary school teacher from Hoshiarpur, echoed a similar sentiment, “ In Finland, education is not based on gender. For them, daily life skills are part of studies. We have presented such system to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also.”
Other teachers, including Rajesh Arora, Navreet Kaur Mander, and Simmi Singla, all from different districts of Punjab, emphasised the fact that government school teachers are stereotyped.
“In Punjab, government school teachers are stigmatised with a notion that they go to school for sunbasking or knitting woollens. We are breaking these stereotypes. We are working, learning, and executing more than a private school teacher could possibly do,” they said.
They further added, “After this training program in Finland, we even taught parents and grandparents how to help children grasp basic concepts of learning and understand the importance of being human first, rather than being gender-conscious.”
The Finnish training experience, described as “learning with joy,” left a lasting impression on the teachers. They believe that such practices in Punjab schools will not only make children practically adept but also break the traditional stereotypes of gender.
The Finnish model of education makes life skills an integral part of the curriculum, as important as academic subjects. Teachers now advocate for creating a similar learning environment in Punjab, preparing students for a more equal and inclusive future.
Punjab’s Education Minister Harjot Bains lauded the initiative and renewed his commitment to the overhaul of the education system. Punjab has already signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Finland’s Turku University under the state government’s reformative vision.
The MoU facilitates teacher training programmes, allowing Punjab teachers to visit Finland, and Finnish educators to share their knowledge in Punjab. The recent training in Finland is part of a broader strategy that has already seen more than 200 principals from Schools of Eminence undergo training in Singapore and 152 headmasters receive professional development in Ahmedabad. The selection process for the Finnish training program was rigorous. Teachers were chosen based on their experience, years left in service, and recommendations from parents of students in government schools.
Nearly 6,000 parents’ feedback was gathered through calls for a fair and inclusive selection process. The minister further stated that this training programme would be a milestone in Punjab’s primary education system by modernising teaching and making schools more appealing to students and parents.
In addition to teacher training, the Punjab government is offering students exciting opportunities to expand their horizons. The minister announced that students would soon visit the Indian Institute of Science and the famous Google Head Office to experience firsthand the world of cutting-edge technology and innovation.