Since the last couple of years, I Fast&Furiously switched my professional career towards education.
This Decision was motivated by several personal and professional reasons ....
Before this recent shift, I spent a period tempting to find my fit into the high gastronomy field, and for some unknown reason, I had the chance to practice and learn cooking know-how from one of the leading executive chefs during my journey in Finland and Sweden.
The journey was amazing, challenging, and full of learnings. I was fortunate enough to understand the true meaning between a hobby and a vocation. In other words, I'm passionate about cooking, but will not make it for a living.
"Idris Aberkan" in his book "Libérez vos cervaux" (Translated to english "Liberate you minds"), made an intersting analogy between food and education.
"Sir Ken Robinson" in his book "Creative school" did also the same analogy ... Interesting right ?
Both of them highlighted three findings :
- Similarities between fast-food and traditional schools
- Knowledge should be presented in "A La Carte" Menu style
- The importance of the organic and sustainable aspects
Now as a father of a lovely half Finn half Tunisian daughter, I wanted to share my thoughts toward the Finnish education system, and more particularly out of Finnish geographical borders.
" The Finnish education system is not like a Pizza ! "
We abundantly notice how Finnish education organizations are popping up here and there all around the world. In no case, I will question the expertise, values, or willingness of such approaches, but what I'm trying to understand here is "How can we extract something fundamental and subjective of a certain culture, and make it fit into another environment ?"
If the Finish education system is successful, it is not because of its purely technical aspect: "Education". There is a whole ecosystem behind it! An enormous number of parameters; Social welfare, economic situation, cultural values, history, architecture, .... You name it!
Example: How can a school/organization out of Finland pretend to promote "Finish Education" practices, if they charge parents scholarship fees that might be limited to a certain part of the population?
In certain countries "Finnish Schools" might be event 3 to 4+ more expensive than traditional schools ?!
I believe that fairness and equality of chances are an imminent part of the "Finish Education" system and values.
What I'm trying to highlight here is that, unlike "Pizza" :) Exporting the Finnish education is not a matter of repeating a recipe rigorously and using premier ingredients; It's much deeper and more complex than that!
Kirsti Lonka in her book "Phenomenal Learning from Finland" talked about the "Contextual" aspect of learning. The Finnish education system (at least in my opinion) is a whole ecosystem including parenting style, weather, culture, architecture, ...) and can not be extrapolated and incorporated in other contexts!
Its about things like "Suomalainen SISU", "Karkkipäivä" ,"Pääsiäinen virvonta", riding a "Jopo" or watching "Moomi" while eating a "Sokeripulla" ... and many other parctices that only my mother in law (100% Finn) is able to enjoy with my daghter !
Here I'm talking about words that "Google translate" can not translate, and "A.I" can not cope with. Things that are part of a unique and single culture !
And after all, why this obsessions of "Exporting the Finnish education system ? "
I believe that education is a matter of Identity, and it has to be national and typical. The Finnish education system or other can naturally be a source of inspirations or reflections but doesn't have to be some "nice to have, and trendy feature" to fulfill other purposes ...