I read the report about Finland’s education system (“In teachers they trust”, March 4) with much envy.

It seems Finland has got an integral step correct — a stringent selection process for teachers, driven by the philosophy of “We trust our teachers”. Teachers can create their own curriculum, and there are no national examinations in the first nine years of formal schooling.

Children’s anecdotes about their school experiences here, including that of my own, suggest that many of our teachers are stressed out by their work. This can lead to love for the vocation dissipating. Teachers may end up scolding and threatening children to keep them in line, and this becomes a vicious circle as children may shut off.

I was also impressed that schools in Finland take in students of varying abilities and yet the gap between their weakest and strongest students is the smallest in the world.

In contrast, we stream students at Primary 4, and our focus on grades has led to rote learning.

I am sure Finland’s system has its disadvantages. But we should make bold decisions to ensure that our teachers are not only highly trained, but also continue to be passionate about what they do.