News
20.08.2019
A private school based on the Finnish curriculum and pedagogical approach has opened in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The opening ceremony of Vietnam-Finland International School (VFIS), the first school in Vietnam that is based on the Finnish model, was held on August 12th, 2019. The school, which operates under Ton Duc Than university, covers grades 1-9, and a part of the teaching staff comes from Finland. At the first stage, some 200 pupils have enrolled in the school.
Learning environment and pedagogy based on the Finnish model
The master plan of Vietnam-Finland International School has been drawn up with the help of Finnish experts, and the school building has also been designed by Finnish architects, to provide a learning environment that supports the pedagogical approach. The English language programmes of the school follow a learning plan based on the Finnish curriculum. Also the bilingual programmes, where part of the teaching is in Vietnamese, use methods that simulate those used in Finland. Finnish experts will continue to support VFIS in developing quality assurance.
- The learning program demonstrates many features that are central to Finnish education: learner centredness, creating a psychologically safe environment, and emphasis on metaskills and learning to learn. Pupils’ learning and well-being are supported by individualised learning plans, varying stages of support to learning, as well as recesses and school meals during the day, says Olli-Pekka Heinonen, Director General at the Finnish National Agency for Education EDUFI, at the opening ceremony.
The school operates as a private school with fees ranging from 16800€ for the international programmes to ca 9000€ for the bilingual programmes. The owner of the school, Ton Duc Than University, aims to re-invest all incomes back into the school to develop the programmes, learning environments, facilities and professional staff.
Culmination of a four-year process
The preparations for opening the Vietnam-Finland International School started four years ago, and the Vietnamese officials took the decision to establish the school in November 2016. The Finnish partner in the project is Wise Consulting Finland Ltd. In the early stages, EduCluster Finland and Finnish Consulting Group were also involved in the project.
- This project is a good example of how consistent and purposeful education export work can bring about excellent results. VFIS is a great model for future projects, where schools want to adapt the Finnish educational model and pedagogy , says Pasi Toiva, CEO of Wise Consulting Ltd.
For further information please contact:
Pasi Toiva, CEO, Wise Consulting Finland Oy, pasi.toiva@wcf.fi , tel +358 440 722 0773