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| Picture by Dr. Andree Swanson |
Different
educational opportunities are needed to develop the highly gifted to create
national innovation and development. Kirsi Tirri and Elina Kuusisto (2013) studied
the gifted educational opportunities in Finland and found that even with recent
improvements the nation is still suffering from a complete understanding of
this population. Improvements are being made to spur national innovation but
there is a general lack of funding, understanding, and research on this
population.
Most
international tests indicate that Finland appears to do well on science, math
and reading tests. Education is free but this has created a reliance on public
education with little variability within the market. Most of the education
focuses on the average student and those who are considered special needs but
fosters few educational opportunities for the gifted.
To many
administrators and decision-makers education is seen as a national investment. It
is believed that as one increases talent and human capital in the market greater
growth is likely to be realized. Public education has significant and strong
support within the country and is seen as a general right of the population.
Special
education receives considerable support within the nation but gifted education
is not well understood or supported within public education. Some have argued
that gifted children, who can develop to the highest levels, should have equal
consideration under legislation. It is unfair to place children with IQ’s of 12
year olds in the same class as 8 year olds and expect them not to feel like
fish out of water. Neither the curriculum nor the social aspects of their
education are meeting this population's needs.
Even though
there has been some movement on after school programs, the Finnish system does
not yet meet the needs of the gifted population. Teachers are unaware of how to
recognize giftedness or support it within the traditional classrooms. The need
to develop national innovation is making some changes in the perspective of
Finnish decision-makers. They are beginning to mention fostering talent and
creativity within their national education programs. The authors argue that
greater research on this population, as well as more knowledge among educators,
is needed to realize new leadership and talent.
Tirri, K.
& Kuusisto, E. (2013). How Finland serves gifted and talented pupils. Journal for the Education of the Gifted, 36 (1).
