Campaign for stellar comprehensive school – from Utö to Utsjoki

The Tempaus2016 event led by Aalto students is realised in good humour, even though a concern regarding the state of the Finnish comprehensive school underlies the activities. There is a decline in both PISA results as well as the academic performance and learning motivation of comprehensive school pupils. Now is the time for action.

“Basic education is absolutely stellar in Finland. With the Tempaus event, we wish to bring the level of education into focus and ensure that it will remain good also in the future”, explains Niko Ferm, the coordinator of Tempaus2016.

The activities will be launched with a large group of people on 31 October and 1 November, as 1 400 university students from around Finland visit 1 500 comprehensive schools all the way from Utö to Utsjoki. The joy of learning will be brought to classrooms with a positive atmosphere.

Dilemmas, logos and paper planes

Those carrying out the Tempaus activities will participate in one class at the schools, realising a previously agreed programme package at the class.  The pupils will get to solve mathematics brain-teasers, learn about establishing a company, consider career paths as well as create insightful visual art.

"The bank of everyday dilemmas will include immersion in the world of mathematics with the help of a card game. Stacks of cards provide different exercises of varying difficulty, which are solved in groups in the classes. The visual art section includes examining the logos of product brands, comparing colours and shapes and designing a logo for the pupil's school", says Noora Vänttinen, who is in charge of the communications of Tempaus2016.

A section entitled 'Road to the future' advances the pupils' understanding of the skills suitable for upper secondary school and vocational school education. The Tempaus representatives encourage the pupils by telling them about their personal study paths, after which the pupils get to create their own, alternative future paths. The students carrying out the Tempaus activities will also adapt to the role of teaching assistants.

"The Kids try science programme entails familiarisation with the aerodynamics of an aircraft. After this, paper planes are used to examine the effect of different folds and stresses on flight characteristics. Finally, a flight competition between the paper planes will be held in the classroom", describes Vänttinen enthusiastically.

Everyone to the Kansalaistori Square

The Tempaus event will culminate in final celebrations open to everyone that will start at 12 o'clock on 2 November. The Kansalaistori Square, located between the Helsinki Music Centre and Kiasma, will bring together all advocates for teaching and those interested in the topic. The event includes serious points of discussion as well as having fun.

A group of 70 volunteers has worked hard on the Tempaus2016 event since February. The volunteers include students from all schools of Aalto University.

Student-led events have long traditions in Finland. In 1968, 15 000 English people visited a ship by the Tower of London loaded with Finnish exports by business students. The creation of Aalto University was celebrated in 2009 with a human chain extending from Arabia to Otaniemi, connecting 3 000 event organisers. We are currently in the process of carrying out one of the biggest student-led events ever. The good cause is supported by the President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö, the patron of Tempaus2016.