News
Early childhood education in Finland
Today, I write on Early Childhood Education, an important aspect of the Finnish educational system which I admire so much.
According to research and other official information, in a population of 5.5 million in Finland, 74.6 per cent of people aged 25 to 64 have completed Upper Secondary or tertiary education. And, 33.2 per cent have university or other tertiary qualifications.
What intrigues me more is the aspect of early childhood education and how play is used as an important way to help children learn at school. Another aspect is the less number of hours that children spend at school, but which has been effective for students’ learning abilities.
As I have been saying, the Finnish educational system is regarded as one of the best in the world and is admired even by other highly advanced, rich countries.
Universalism in education
Finland has a fee-free education at all levels from pre-primary to higher education. In pre-primary and basic education the textbooks, daily meal and transportation for students living further away from the school are free.
According to the “Education in Finland” series, published by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture and the Finnish National Agency for Education, a central objective of the Finnish education policy is to offer all citizens equal opportunities to receive education.
The structure of the education system reflects these principles. The same educational opportunities should be available to all citizens irrespective of their ethnic origin, ages, wealth or where they live.
One of the basic principles of Finnish education is that all people must have equal access to high-quality education and training. (Only students from non-European Union and non-European Economic Area (EEA) pay tuition fees in higher education (university level), which came into effect about three years ago.
Early childhood educational curriculum
Every child in Finland from 10 months to six years has a right in early childhood education, which is backed by the Finnish law of early childhood education, 549/2018.
Researchers point out that one of the key principles of the early childhood education curriculum system is universalism, meaning that every child should have access to quality educational services.
Play-based learning, less home-work
Many research reports have emphasised how teachers are trained and are expected to be sensitive towards children’s feelings and personal well-being.
Play-based learning at school is highly encouraged. Teachers are expected to encourage children to learn through playing, while teachers are encouraged (or expected) to encourage children in that direction.
There are different practices of play, and children are viewed as active agents for play and learning. The setting in the room, time allotted, and the general atmosphere are all considered enabling factors to help children learn.
Children easily enter play-based activities and watched over to solve problems thus learn by doing things.
Students in primary and even higher level have only five hours per day in school. For children in early education, they also have little home work outside of school.
Thank you.
By Perpetual Crentsil
The writer is a Ghanaian lecturer at the Helsinki University in Finland
News
NTC staff demonstrate prowess in fire fighting
The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) on Tuesday held a sensitisation workshop on fire safety for staff of the New Times Corporation (NTC), publishers of The Ghanaian Times and The Spectator.
It created awareness on fire prevention and safety measures to prevent fire in the home or office.
During the practical session, a section of the staff were taken through fire outbreaks drills steps to take in fire .
tries his hands on
one of the traditional
way to combat fire
Nortey led the demonstration exercise
to staff before the demonstration exercise
of staff Herty Nortey to put off a fire
Can-Tamakloe trying to
extinguish the fire
Led by Assistant Divisional Officer (ADO 1) Isaac Tengfaa, the staff were taught how to use the different types of fire extinguishers to combat fire.
He said it was important for home owners and office workers to put off every electrical gadget at work before leaving for their respective home because more fires in offices occur at closing hours.
He said fire incidence often resulted from carelessness, ignorance or natural occurrence.
Supported by ADO I Richard Mensah, ADO I Eunice Ceasar and Fire woman Anita Amponsah, some of the staff tried their hands on the fire extinguishers and other modes of combatting fire.
By Linda Abrefie Wadie
News
GJA commits to fighting ‘galamsey’
The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Kwabena Dwumfour, has expressed the association’s commitment to the fight against illegal mining, known in the local parlance as ‘galamsey.’
According to him, the association was worried that forest reserves, water bodies and farm lands were being destroyed and degraded, all in the name of gold mining.
He said this when he addressed a press conference on issues affecting the nation and welfare of Journalists.
The GJA president indicated that in the mining communities, law and order were crumbling with impunity, with associated human right abuses, adverse and forced possessions of individual lands and farms while the decentralised administrative arms of government and traditional authorities seem to be helpless.
Turning his attention to assurances given by President John Dramani Mahama to fight illegal mining, the GJA President stressed that those assurances were welcomed, but urged the President to honour them.
“We welcome the assurances and commitment of President Mahama towards the fight against galamsey and it is our prayer that he will not relent or give up but honour his promise of stopping illegal mining in the country,” Mr Dwumfour emphasised.
He pledged the GJA’s support for the government in curbing the menace.
“We reiterate our condemnation of all illegal mining activities and demand urgent steps to be taken to tackle the issues head-on. There should be strict enforcement of all mining laws and regulations without any concessions, as well as the imposition of maximum sentences on offenders. This is a reliable approach to addressing this issue,” Mr Dwumfour added.
“The GJA urges the media to maintain the galamsey issue at the forefront until the menace was eliminated. As indicated in previous press conferences, we will not stop highlighting the issues until Galamsey stops,” he urged.
