The Finnish basic education system has been based on the philosophy of
inclusion for a long time. Basic education is the same for all. In order
to be able to provide equal opportunities for learning to every pupil,
support actions play a key role. Inclusion and individual learning
support requires different professionals available for the needs of
students. Modern teaching professionalism involves active co-operation
between teachers, teaching assistants, other professionals and parents.
Education assistant
Multitasking professional supporting school work and running the club activities
- Education assistants are offering truly precious extra hands for
varying tasks for enabling the quality activities and functioning in the
field of education.
- The assistants work as a co-worker with teachers on all the education levels from early education to upper secondary education.
- Within basic education, the assistant usually belongs to a team of a
class teacher or a special needs teacher, or then works as an assistant
of many groups.
- Through the assistant expertise, it is possible to make the benefit
of multiple and varying teaching methods. A large group of pupils can be
shared into smaller teams, and the use of several learning environments
is possible when professionals team up. However, teachers always hold
the pedagogical and curriculum-based responsibility of the education
work.
- Another typical key role for an assistant is also to work as a personal guide to a pupil with special needs.
- Education assistants often run the morning and afternoon activities
within basic education premises in addition to the school hours. The
younger the pupils, the shorter the school days are. For instance,
afternoon clubs run by a familiar professional are truly needed.
Special education teacher
The teacher whose expertise is there to provide support for individual needs
- Special needs teachers and special class teachers provide special
needs education and individual support for pupils with varying needs.
- Special needs education may be necessary due to mental, physical,
behavioural or other reasons. Gifted pupils and students might also need
special support for their studies.
- Special needs teachers require knowledge of special needs education
and teaching as well as an understanding and acceptance of differences.
- Special needs teachers might work in all the education levels or in varying types of institutions.
- In Finnish education, the general target is to follow the philosophy of an inclusive education.
The aim is to facilitate basic education in the pupil’s home school.
Through support and flexible methods, many of the individual learning
needs can be met within a general classroom and curriculum.
- The fundamental principle of Finnish education is to provide equal
opportunities for learning and growth to every pupil or student. Support
for learners plays a key role.
- The support is organised systematically through a three-step- model.
The focus is on the earliest possible support in order to prevent the
growth of problems.
- The special needs teacher is usually a teacher of all the pupils of
the school. The role involves intensive co-operation with class
teachers, noticing the possible support actions needed and facilitating
the methods according to the individual study plans. A significant team
member of the special needs teacher is often an educational assistant.
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- Special class teachers work intensively with their own class with a
small number of pupils who need full-time special needs support. Within
recent years, the number of special classes has decreased significantly
as the support has been brought actively to the circumstances of a
general education.
Guidance counsellor
Professional support for pupils’ individual study or career paths
- A guidance counsellor provides study and career guidance in all the
education levels and at a variety of educational institutions.
- The guidance counsellor’s role varies from group interventions to a pupil’s personal guiding processes.
- The guidance counsellors are helping students searching for suitable
options according to their future plans, making the connections and
training periods with companies possible, and supporting students’
entrepreneurial path.
- Guidance counselling is one of the topics in the national curriculum
that educators must provide according to the students’ needs.