Punjab School Education Minister Harjot Bains Bains, along with Finland’s Ambassador to India, Mr. Kimmo Lahdevirta, inaugurated a week-long training program for the second batch of 72 primary school teachers today.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony at Punjab Bhawan,Minister Harjot Bains announced that this group of teachers would travel to Finland on March 15 for a two-week training session at the University of Turku as part of a knowledge exchange program.
Reflecting on the successful training of the first batch, which took place from October 21 to November 8 last year at the University of Turku, the Education Minister engaged in in-depth discussions with Ambassador Kimmo Lahdevirta and university experts. The discussions focused on strengthening educational collaboration between Punjab and Finland to enhance the quality of school education in the state. Minister Harjot Bains highlighted the importance of deepening ties with Finland, recognized for its world-class education system.
Reaffirming the Punjab Government’s commitment to providing high-quality education, Minister Harjot Bains expressed a strong interest in adopting Finland’s innovative approaches, particularly in elementary education, teacher training, and digital learning. He emphasized the need to equip students with essential skills for success in today’s competitive world.
Underscoring the significance of international collaboration, the Minister commended Punjab’s teachers for embracing new teaching methods that make learning more interactive, enjoyable, and effective—contributing to the modernization of the state’s education system.
Minister Harjot Bains reiterated the government’s commitment to continuously improving education standards, emphasizing that the teacher training program is a vital step in aligning Punjab’s education system with global benchmarks. He stressed the importance of equipping teachers with the right skills, training, and tools to create a stress-free and engaging learning environment.
Finland’s Ambassador, Mr. Kimmo Lahdevirta, applauded the Punjab Government’s progressive initiatives in education and reaffirmed Finland’s commitment to supporting Punjab in enhancing its educational framework. Minister Harjot Bains emphasized that the exchange of best practices and knowledge would be mutually beneficial.
Minister Harjot Bains also announced the implementation of a ‘Train the Trainer’ initiative to ensure the long-term impact of the training program. This initiative will empower selected teachers to become trainers, enabling them to pass on their knowledge to fellow educators and create a sustainable model for improving primary education across Punjab.
Secretary of School Education, Mr. Kamal Kishor Yadav, appreciated the Finnish experts for their ongoing support in making the training program a success. He emphasized the significant impact of this collaboration on Punjab’s education system. Director SCERT Punjab, Ms. Amaninder Kaur Brar, also expressed gratitude to the Finnish experts, highlighting the importance of international partnerships in raising primary education standards in the state.
During the event, the School Education Minister honored Mr. Kimmo Lahdevirta, Ms. Liisa Toivonen (Counsellor of Science and Higher Education at the Embassy of Finland), Mr. Ari Koski (Key Account Manager, University of Turku), Ms. Kristiina Heikkila (Chair of Global Educational Services, Faculty of Education, University of Turku), Ms. Soili Norra (Vice Principal, Rauma Teacher Training School, Finland), and Ms. Suvi Puolakka (Senior Researcher, Department of Teacher Education) for their contributions.