Increase in aggressive and antisocial behaviour among schoolchildren in Espoo
City's schools still facing spending cutbacks
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The number school pupils in schools in Espoo who have problems with social adaptation, and who are in special education classes is growing.
The proportion of pupils in special education in Finnish-language schools in the city has increased during one year by nearly one percentage point to 11 per cent. Currently there are nearly 3,000 pupils in Espoo schools who need special education.
There has been an especially sharp increase in the number of children with problems in adapting socially. The number of children who are aggressive, or who have other behavioural problems has doubled from 2006, numbering 190.
“They can be aggressive toward themselves, their classmates, or toward adults in their classes. The aggressiveness can manifest itself in the form of throwing books, unruliness, or unforseen behaviour”, says Ilpo Salonen of the Section of Education, Culture, and Recreation of the City of Espoo.
Salonen says that there is no simple explanation for the surge in pupils with special needs. One reason is improved diagnostics: problems are recognised more easily, and they are given a name.
“Another possible reason for increased aggressiveness could be that people are living in a Play Station world. Not all parents are able to devote so much time to education that they could establish sufficient interaction with their children”, Salonen notes.
In spite of the increase in the number of special needs pupils, Espoo is considering a two per cent cut in funding for resources for teaching hours. The cut, amounting to about EUR 700,000 next autumn, affects education in all comprehensive schools in Espoo, including special education classes.
The cutbacks are expected to lead to increased class sizes and reductions in foreign language education. The need to save money was prompted by the increase in the number of upper secondary school pupils and in pay hikes for teachers.
The last time that resources were reduced was in 2005. After that, Espoo managed to bring funding back up to the level it was before that The Finnish-language Education Board was informed of the new proposed cutbacks last week.
Espoo School Board Chairwoman Sanna Lauslahti (Nat. Coalition Party) said that it is unacceptable for the funding to go up and down like a roller coaster. “Schools need to be given a permanent framework under which they can plan teaching”, Lauslahti says.
Aulis Pitkälä of the Education Section also sees no sense in repeated increases and cutbacks in funding. However, he points out that even if the planned cutbacks are implemented, Espoo would still be ahead of neighbouring Helsinki.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 2.9.2008 - TODAY |
 Increase in aggressive and antisocial behaviour among schoolchildren in Espoo |
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