Finnish teachers overburdened by special-needs pupils
Experts at congress call for more psychological training for teachers
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Class teachers at Finnish comprehensive schools tend to agree that they have difficulties in meeting the special needs of pupils with learning disabilities.
At an annual summer congress for education at the University of Jyväskylä on Monday, Professor Sakari Moberg presented research according to which 97% of teachers want more funding for the integrated teaching of ordinary pupils and those with special needs.
The studies, conducted in 2001, 2003 and 2004, involved thousands of Finnish teachers.
Many teachers said that they were exhausted by their work, because they lacked the training necessary for teaching pupils with special needs. The situation was made more difficult by the shortage of special education teachers and school helpers.
Moberg praised the achievements of Finnish education, but suggested that the price that has been paid may be too high. He suggested that the focus on achieving results could be eased, in favour of engendering a community spirit and promoting job satisfaction.
Another speaker at the congress, Professor Lea Pulkkinen, said that head teachers at Finnish schools should go back to being educational leaders.
In Pulkkinen’s view, head teachers nowadays focus too much on administrative duties.
Dr. Oiva Ikonen complained about the reduction of psychology in teacher training. He noted that psychological skills can help teachers through difficult situations that arise with special education pupils.
Professor Pulkkinen agreed that psychology is underrated in teachers’ education, and that a command of psychology would be especially important in the lower grades of comprehensive school. She noted that bad experiences from incompetent teachers in the early years of school increases a pupil’s danger of becoming marginalised.
According to Dr. Ikonen, the problem is not one of money, or of class size, but rather of the way in which local authorities allocate their state subsidies. "Some invest in a bowling alley, others in special education", he said.
He also called for less bureaucracy, and for the dismantling of inflexible financial arrangements.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 3.8.2004 - TODAY |
 Finnish teachers overburdened by special-needs pupils |
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