Finnish schools reopen with new mobile phone restrictions and active lifestyle initiatives
Finnish schools have reopened for the new academic year, with pupils in cities such as Helsinki, Lahti, Jyväskylä, Joensuu, Oulu, and Rovaniemi returning to classrooms on Wednesday. Espoo and Vantaa will follow on Thursday, while Tampere’s schools have already resumed lessons after the summer break.
The new school year introduces several changes, including a push to further tighten last year’s mobile phone restrictions in some schools. Additionally, a government-backed initiative called Finland on the Move aims to promote physical activity among primary school students. Yle reports that the programme will reduce sedentary time during lessons and encourage more movement during breaks, including teacher-led games and välkkäri—a peer mentoring system where older students support younger ones during recess.
Terhi Nissinen of the Finnish National Agency for Education stated that the changes will be noticeable in daily school life, with an emphasis on active learning and travel to school by walking or cycling (Yle).
Debate over school catchment areas reignites
The start of the school year has also brought renewed discussion about school shopping—the practice of parents attempting to enrol their children in non-local schools perceived as more desirable. Recent boundary changes in eastern Helsinki have sparked controversy, as some families in Herttoniemi and Myllypuro oppose plans to redirect pupils to Itäkeskus Primary School.
Annette Ukkola of the Finnish Education Evaluation Centre (FINECC) told Yle that schools with higher numbers of students learning Finnish as a second language (S2) are often avoided, a trend she described as potentially racist. She emphasised that Finland’s education system offers multiple pathways to higher education, and that attending a "reputable" primary school is not a prerequisite for university admission.
First-graders adapt to new routines
For around 50,000 children starting first grade this autumn, the transition to school life has been marked by preparation and excitement. Seven-year-old Isla Tuomi from Helsinki, one of the new first-graders, began her school day with a traditional rooster whistle wake-up call—a custom from her daycare. Her family, including her grandmother who travelled from North Savo, helped prepare breakfast for the occasion.
Isla wore a carefully chosen lilac outfit and carried a phone-watch, which she uses to stay in touch with her parents and best friend. MTV Uutiset reports that she has been practising independence, including tying her own shoelaces and rehearsing her route to school, opting for the safer of two possible paths. Her older brother, Toivo, has shared insights about school life, such as the fact that first-graders eat lunch first (MTV Uutiset).
