Reasons for adopting Finnish education at Finland Oman School

After extensive research into an education system that would put Oman on par with the world’s best, the founders of Finland Oman School decided to adopt the Finnish education system.

There were several reasons for this adoption, the main one being the Finnish education’s track record of being the best in the world. The programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) − a standardised test given to 15-yearolds in more than 40 global venues – showed the Finnish youth to be the best young readers in the world in 2000 and then three years later, they also led in math. By 2006, Finland was the first out of 57 countries in science (Smithsonian Magazine, 2021). A major contributing factor was the international high standards of the knowledge and skills of the Finns in problemsolving, scientific, mathematical and reading literacy. A particularly unique feature of the Finnish education system is that it takes into consideration changing trends within the wider global economy and adapts to meet the rising challenges. According to the 2019 Worldwide Educating for the Future Index (Weffi) released recently by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), Finland is a leader in providing future skills education (New Strait Times, 2020). In other words, Finnish education prepares children for the future with the skills that are needed now and in the future. What is Finland’s secret? A whole-child-centred, research-and-evidence based school system, run by highly professionalized teachers are key principles entrenched in the Finnish education system.

Finland Oman School thus incorporates these “best in the world

Finnish principles” immersed in Omani values.

At Finland Oman School learning is student-centred and ageappropriate. Every student is unique. Differences are celebrated and each students’ strengths developed. Students are taught to be independent learners, taking responsibility for their homework from an early age to become lifelong learners.

At Finland Oman School students enjoy learning by using different methods, learning in everything they do. From playful learning activities to chemistry labs, robotics and encoding. Kids want to learn more and need the right environment. Kids love education when best when it is interesting, fun and attractive.

Assessment is part of daily schoolwork. Highly qualified and carefully selected teachers are entrusted with scheduling regular assessments to best determine each student’s progress and guide them on the discovery of their preferred paths to discover their true potential. To achieve this, students are given the educational support that every student has a right to.

At Finland Oman School, assessments take place daily. Teachers are trained to assess and recognise students in need of support. Some students may require general support, some may require more intensified support while others require special support. Support plans are created based on the assessments and each student is given the appropriate amount of support. Individualised learning is an important part of the Finnish system.

Specialised learning tools and programs, like the international math learning system EDU-TEN, are used to help students be more involved in the subjects and have a deeper understanding of how things work.

Focus on student wellbeing. A welfare team that supports teachers and students is an integral part of Finnish schools and thus also Finland Oman School. Learning through play is practised widely in the Finnish Education system; Education through the joy of learning is also Finland Oman School’s motto. Active breaks and time for play are included in the school days. All this is done in a harmonious and healthy student and learning environment where students are happy and can thrive as learning in the Finnish education system is fun, active and engaging. In keeping with this philosophy, Finland Oman School boasts a modern playground, a football pitch and a swimming pool among all the other facilities provided, all situated on the German University Campus.

According to the Finnish system, both the brain and the body need the best nutrition. At Finland Oman School on normal days, healthy nutritious meals are prepared for the students by specialised chefs in our state-of-the-art kitchen and served in our spacious canteen where all primary and secondary students learn healthy eating habits. A healthy snack is provided as well to avoid students bringing unhealthy snacks to school. Education is not only imparting knowledge but holistically developing students by balancing school life with playtime and instilling healthy eating, living and social habits. At Finland Oman School all these aspects are emphasised whilst also inculcating Omani values.

Social skills: To further ensure the happiness of each and every student, Finland Oman School has also invested in the KiVA programme − an innovative school-based antibullying programme which has been developed using cutting-edge research on bullying and its mechanisms to firstly prevent bullying, to intervene when it does occur and to monitor such instances.

Skills are more important than content: The common objectives of the subjects are developed as transversal competence areas. In other words, the Finnish education system is not about rote learning content, but about equipping students with soft skills or emotional intelligence which are needed in life. Students are encouraged to learn the different languages on offer at Finland Oman School, namely English, Arabic, French,

German, Finnish and Spanish.

With the emphasis on holistic development, non-academic subjects like Visual Arts, Music, P.E. are regarded to be as important as academic subjects in the Finnish system as they are essential for students’ overall wellbeing. In Finland, the ratio between these subjects is roughly as high as 40/60.

− A phenomenon-based learning and cross-curricular approach are characteristic of Finnish education; students get to explore the links between different subjects. Students accordingly make connections across subjects and also link learning to the world. The STEAM framework − which means Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics – is used to facilitate this cross-curricular approach and to combine subjects and teachers. At Finland Oman School, students are prepared for the world and their future.

Finland Oman School was established in the Sultanate of Oman to provide the citizens and residents of Oman access to the best educational practices which are ranked the highest in the world. The more parents learn more about the Finnish educational system, the more they want their child to be a part of it. Finland Oman School is owned by Oman Educational Services – owners of GUtech – the German University. The school is located on the Muscat Expressway on the same campus as the German University, the Historic Science Center and the ECO-Haus.

Registration is now open for the next academic year and parents can book a school tour in person or virtually and set up an assessment for their child. Visit our website www.fos.edu.om