New lesson plan to put greater emphasis on physical education

More electives, greater language variety urged

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A working group is proposing a sharp increase in physical education at Finnish schools, in an effort to boost fitness among Finland’s school-age population.
      The group, headed by Timo Lankinen, director-general of the Finnish National Board of Education, submitted its proposals on new lesson plans for Finnish schools to Minister of Education Henna Virkkunen (Nat. Coalition Party) on Tuesday.
      The fairly large working group was not unanimous in its proposals.
     
The group proposes that school subjects should be grouped into six different categories.
      For instance, in grades 8-9, the pupil would have a choice of two subjects from among a range of subjects in the category of arts and crafts, including music, visual arts, handicrafts, and drama.
      Alongside drama, the new lesson plan would have ethics as a new subject. However, teaching of the pupil’s own religion, and its alternative of ethics for children of non-religious families, would remain unchanged.
     
More choice is to be made available in grades 3-9, but the electives are to be linked to a large extent with “subject packages”.
      The minimum number of hours is to grow by 152 hours, raising the total number of lessons to at least 8,588. The additional lessons would be mainly for the lower grade levels. The main reason for the additional hours would be an aim at gender equality.
     
Mandatory teaching of the second domestic language (Swedish for Finnish-speakers and Finnish for those with Swedish as their mother tongue) would begin by the sixth grade at the latest, which is a year earlier than is now the case.
      The issue of what is generally referred to as "compulsory Swedish" has been a bone of contention in some circles for many years, and was most recently brought into the public eye again by the Confederation of Finnish Industries (see linked article).
      Local authorities would be required to offer three options for the primary foreign language - the “long A-language” from the second grade.
      One of the options would have to be either Swedish or Finnish.
      Each local authority would also be required to offer a second A-language from the fifth grade, if there are at least ten pupils who want to take it.
     
The report was both praised and criticised in connection with its publication. The proposal itself contains several statements and dissenting opinions.
      The Trade Union of Education (OAJ) says that the proposal would increase choice for those organising education, but not for the pupils.
      The OAJ also feels that the proportion of arts subjects would not necessarily grow as a result.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Industries Confederation calls for more options for language studies (1.6.2010)

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