Minister for improving students' skills by adding more lessons

Minister of Education Anna-Maja Henriksson on Tuesday said that restructuring of educational policies and resources for implementing the changes will be needed to improve learning outcomes.

The Minister made the remark following the findings of the OECD’s PISA 2022 (Programme for International Student Assessment), which showed that the learning outcomes of young people in Finland have deteriorated, said the Ministry of Education in a press release.

While mathematical, reading and scientific literacy among Finnish students still rank above the OECD average, learning outcomes in Finland have weakened.

According to Minister Henriksson, it is now time to bring the learning outcomes of Finnish young people into special focus and reverse the declining trend.

The Government will improve basic skills by bringing in restructuring measures, and it will invest EUR 200 million in primary and lower secondary education.

"As outlined in the Government Programme, we will raise the minimum number of lessons in primary and lower secondary education by three weekly lessons per year, but in such a way that it does not expand the national curriculum. Two of these weekly lessons will be added for Finnish or Swedish language and literature at grade levels 1 and 2 and one lesson for mathematics at grade levels 3 to 6," said Henriksson.

“This will help improve reading, writing and mathematical literacy," she added.

The plan is for the statutory amendments to enter into force in comprehensive schools from 1 August 2025 onwards.

"Legislation on learning support will be completely overhauled in order to reduce the administrative burden on teachers and to make sure enough support measures are available. Every student must have equal opportunities to receive learning support, both as members of their group and as individuals. The different types of support will be harmonised and clarified nationally,” said the minister.