Twenty-nine government school teachers from Andhra Pradesh, who received the ‘Best Teacher’ awards last year, will participate in a three-phase international professional development programme, including an exposure visit to Finland. This initiative is part of the state’s efforts to integrate global teaching practices into government schools.
Programme Launch
The programme was jointly launched by the school education department and Samagra Shiksha at Andhra Loyola College in Vijayawada on Friday. Selected teachers will receive training from experts at the University of Turku, Finland, before undertaking a study visit to the Nordic country later this year.
Government’s Focus on Teacher Development
Samagra Shiksha state project director B Srinivasa Rao stated that the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening teachers’ professional capabilities and improving learning outcomes in government schools. He described teachers as “change agents” who can play a crucial role in transforming the state’s education system.
Three Phases of the Programme
Phase One: Running until June 17, Finnish education experts Ari Koski, Sari Isokyto-Sinjoi, and Suvi Puolakka are conducting sessions on play-based learning and Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) in Vijayawada.
Phase Two: Scheduled from August 17 to 26, the teachers will visit the Finnish cities of Turku and Rauma to observe classroom practices at early childhood education centres, preschools, and teacher-training institutions.
Phase Three: Focuses on implementing school-level projects based on learnings from Finland. Faculty members from the University of Turku will provide online mentoring and feedback to help teachers adapt international best practices to local classrooms.
Expected Impact
Officials said the programme aims to equip teachers with innovative pedagogical methods and improve the quality of education in government schools across the state.
