Primary teachers from Lithuania on a Study Tour in Finland

A couple of weeks ago we welcomed a big group of primary school teachers from Lithuania to get to know Finnish Education practices and also dive deeper in the field of phenomenon-based learning and multi-disciplinary education from many different perspectives. We examined the topic through the Finnish curriculum, workshops, and school visits. This group was the second batch of Lithuanian teachers we had the joy to welcome to Finland this Spring.

The emphasis on learning for life rather than for tests

During the first day we visited a brand new, highly modern and well-equipped Vähäjärvi Comprehensive School in a nearby municipality of Pirkkala.

This exceptionally large and modern institution accommodates 1,250 students, ranging from preschoolers at age six to teenagers at sixteen. The Lithuanian teachers were highly impressed by the school’s facilities, which include well-equipped classrooms, innovative architecture, and excellent teaching materials.

Beyond the infrastructure, what truly captivated them was Finland’s education system—built on a foundation of trust between teachers and students. The emphasis on learning for life rather than for tests, resonated deeply with them, aligning with their aspirations for education in Lithuania. That week, Finnish schools were celebrating National Reading Week, and we had the opportunity to observe a primary school reading picnic on the sports hall floor.

They were also introduced to the Wilma system. In a nutshell, Wilma makes communication between the school and home very easy. Many schools make use of the Wilma system for communication between guardians, pupils, and staff. It provides a platform to monitor timetables, absences, and learning and need of support.

This group was very interested in the feedback given during the lessons; how is it done, by whom and so on. During the classroom visits, the group saw how actively students are participating and working on their tasks, which was a pleasure to observe.

Transversal competences in action

On the second day we visited Lempoinen school in Lempäälä. We had a tour of the school that has been renovated recently. We were admiring their excellent sport and craft facilities. We saw how grade 5 pupils were starting work on their Erasmus+ project. Their topic is climate change and carbon footprint.

In our afternoon’s workshop led by Finnish education expert we were discussing what skills our pupils need in the future.

When we looked at transversal competences in the Finnish national curriculum, we realised that we could find perfect matches to the skills that the Lithuanian teachers found important.

We are thankful that there were two skilled translators joining the team and assisting us throughout the study tour. Everyone could raise their question and get answers from our experts without feeling excluded. This inclusive approach worked really well!

Steps towards sustainable development

Why nature is so important to Finnish people? Our guests got a glimpse of it during the Finnish Nature Experience in collaboration with Seventen Tours – an evening spent in a Finnish forest with your colleagues and new friends. Respecting the environment around us and making sure everyone has easy access to nature as that is the source for wellbeing. One participant highlighted the inspiring Finnish nature, noting features like the abundance of rocks and stones caused by the Ice Age, which are absent in Lithuania.

The topic around environment continued during a visit to Toivio School which is an Eco-School operating under the name Green Flag in Finland. At Toivio School, students take active steps toward sustainable development. They plan, carry out, document, and present the projects they have implemented to others. The group also dived into phenomenon-based learning through both theory and a hands-on workshop.

Highlights of the study tour

During our farewell lunch at the historical settings of Finlayson Palace we enjoyed a delicious 3 course lunch and wrapped up the program with a reflection session, handing out certificates and the book written by Learning Scoop´s experts: Finnish Education in Practice: What, Why and How.

To summarize the feedback of this study tour, please check out the list below:

• This group was very impressed by the Finnish education system, which closely mirrors real-world scenarios, for example preparing students for employment.
• Lithuanian teachers appreciated very much the trust and respect shown by parents and also students towards teachers, who enjoy significant freedom and flexibility in their work.
• They believe Finland offers excellent conditions for students, providing a friendly and supportive atmosphere for studying.
• Primary educators admired and were impressed by the variety and quality of materials and instruments used in schools, such as office supplies, glass, and knitting tools etc.
• Our visitors were very inspired by the diverse learning spaces available for children at schools, such as gyms and corridors etc.
• They were surprised by the excellent English skills of all the teachers they met.
• They also noted that their group of 30 participants was cheerful and easy to get along with, and everyone bonded well.
• This bunch of joyful educators were very inspired and motivated by all the people they met. They found all the people they met warm and friendly, contrary to the stereotype of Finns being cold.
• In general, they were very happy and thankful with the program of the visit praising its good planning, flexibility, and balance between knowledge sharing and free time. Everything was excellent!

Afterwards we heard that they were on a national TV Morning show in Lithuania, talking about phenomenon based learning and the visit to Tampere as one of the teachers from study tour was interviewed. We are proud of you – well done!

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you for joining us on this journey. We hope that the experiences, insights, and skills gained during this trip will inspire and enrich your own teaching and school communities. We trust the visit provided meaningful new perspectives on how phenomenon-based and multidisciplinary learning can be brought to life in practice. A special note of gratitude goes to our wonderful partners in Lithuania – Julija and Goda from Kūrybingumo mokykla. Collaborating with passionate professionals like you was truly a pleasure and an inspiration! If you wish to read about the first trip by the secondary teachers, please have a look!