Matriculation exam reform: Swedish to be elective subject for Finnish-speakers
Swedish People’s Party swallows disappointment
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The government voted on Thursday to endorse a bill that would bring considerable changes to the structure of Finnish matriculation examinations by the spring of 2005 at the latest.
Under the proposed legislation, the only mandatory subject for all participants would be the mother tongue - Finnish for the vast majority, and Swedish for Finland’s Swedish-language minority.
In addition, school leavers would have to choose at least three other tests. The options include the second domestic language (Swedish for Finnish-speakers, and Finnish for Swedish-speakers), foreign languages, mathematics, and the so-called reaalikoe - a general paper containing questions from a number of subjects, including sciences, psychology, and religion.
Ministers Jan-Erik Enestam and Ulla-Maj Wideroos of the Swedish People’s Party opposed the proposal to the last. They would have wanted to keep the second domestic language mandatory for everyone, but the party’s two ministers were not able to win any of the Centre Party or Social Democratic ministers over to their side.
The junior partners in the three-party coalition wanted a model in which there would be five mandatory subjects, including both domestic languages.
To assuage the disappointment of the Swedish People’s Party, the government also passed a statement obliging the Ministry of Education to assess the impact of the voluntary status of Swedish on the choices made by students taking the matriculation exam.
Statistics suggest that the popularity of Swedish has steadily declined in schools in which it has been made optional.
The Swedish People’s Party ministers also succeeded in inserting a sentence in the statement on the possible increase of so-called language bonuses for civil servants.
During the debate, Minister of Education Tuula Haatainen (SDP) emphasised that the purpose of the change is to boost motivation among pupils by increasing their freedom of choice.
Enestam countered, saying that the government was sacrificing well-rounded education on the altar of freedom of choice.
Although the Swedish People’s Party found itself at odds with the rest of the government, there was never any suggestion that the party should walk out of the coalition over the issue.
"Although this is a central issue, it is not the only one in which the input of the Swedish People’s Party is needed", explained Michael Luther, chairman of the party’s Ostrobothnia section.
If Parliament manages to debate the issue in May, the new matriculation exam could be taken into use already in the autumn of this year. Otherwise the launch is likely to be postponed until the spring of next year.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 16.4.2004 - TODAY |
 Matriculation exam reform: Swedish to be elective subject for Finnish-speakers |
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