The Informative Essay: The Role Of Teachers In Higher Education

In accordance with it’s renowned quality, teaching is a highly competitive field. Universities have a two part entrance exam that tests for academic qualifications as well as looking to determine your personal suitability and motivation (Malinen, Väisänen, & Savolainen). Only ten percent, or one in ten, of prospective teachers are selected to move on (Carey). Once accepted into their chosen university, they are divided into different programs depending on whether they want to teach a core subject or a special subject. Those who chose a core subject are called primary teachers, and they usually prepare to teach and specialize either in grades 1-2 or 3-6 (Malinen, Väisänen, & Savolainen). The Universities pride themselves in continuously providing the soon-to-be teachers the opportunity to learn how to effectively teach every type of student while they are studying there (Carey). In 1979, it became mandatory that all Finnish teachers acquire their master’s degree (Malinen, Väisänen, & Savolainen). Fortunately for them, this is paid for by their government (The …show more content…
In 2010, a study was released that deemed 95.2% of elementary teachers qualified. Though it would seem that all teachers would be qualified in the area that is the most observed by foreign education experts, Helsinki, they actually have the lowest rate. The study found that while Lapland teachers were 97.6% qualified and Eastern Finland’s were 97.7%, Helsinki only had an 88.3% qualification rate. Another area that is lacking in their qualification percentage is special education. Overall, teacher’s working in that sector of education are 76.1% qualified. Perhaps because of this, over the next fifteen years, the demand for special education teachers is expected to rise. On the flip side, it’s projected that there will be an overabundant amount of subject teachers (Malinen, Väisänen, &