Opening session of Metro-Koulu teacher training programme held

The inaugural session of the Metro-Koulu Teacher Training Certification Programme was held yesterday at the Metro International School campus, according to a press release issued on Thursday.

This is a joint venture between Metro International School and Koulu Education Group (Finland) and is aimed at raising the standard of teaching in Pakistan through integrating foreign expertise into the local market.

The programme is based on teaching practices and learning methodologies followed in Finland, which is currently ranked as the top education system in the world.

The trainings mark a shift in philosophy that you do not teach children but children learn, and therefore teachers must be skilled at creating enabling learning environments. The certification is based on a combination of instructor-led course work over video conference and self-study. Metro-Koulu have designed this certification to be vocationally focused, as many teacher training programmes are very theory based and graduates of these programmes find it difficult to translate their gained knowledge into classroom practice.

The certification covers child pedagogy and psychology, lesson planning and evaluation, classroom delivery, and effective classroom management skills, and focuses on modern learning principles of critical thinking and analytical skills, creativity in the classroom, and solution-oriented approaches to ensure students are equipped with the right set of skills to excel in life. Metro-Koulu are offering two certifications in Pakistan; an Early Years Teaching Certification and Primary Years Teaching Certification.

Metro’s vision is to promote the need for quality teacher training and continuing professional development to ensure best-in-class practices are followed by teachers in Pakistan. The programme set-up places emphasis on the sustainability of a long-term teacher training certification in Pakistan.

Daanish Mustafa, principal of Metro International School, says: “We see a lot of passionate teachers in Pakistan, but what we have lacked for many years is complementing that passion with a skill set that will really make these driven individuals amazing teachers and give our students a learning experience second to none. Nothing is more important for the progress of Pakistan than an educated and conscientious youth.”

Koulu Education Group is a member of Education Finland, a network of organisations selected by the Finnish National Agency for Education, the implementation arm of the Finnish Ministry of Education to promote the Finnish methodology around the world.