Kristina Kallas and Anders Adlercreutz. Photo: HTM, Raimo Roht
Minister of Education Anders Adlercreutz met Estonia's Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas in Tallinn on 18 February. A Finnish - Estonian declaration on digitalisation, media literacy and artificial intelligence was published during the visit. The ministers also discussed these themes with experts and students.
A working group preparing an overhaul of student financial aid has assessed the current situation in student financial aid and key development needs in the student financial aid system. Needs for development that were deemed essential include reinstating indexation and restructuring interest assistance and loan granting practices to improve the security of student loans. The working group's proposals were submitted to Minister Sandra Bergqvist on 30 January.
Lower secondary school girls and boys showed interest in going to the gym.
More than 112,000 primary and lower secondary schoolchildren from 1,300 schools took part in the Ministry of Education and Culture’s national student survey. According to the survey, 85% of schoolchildren have a hobby they enjoy. 19% of lower secondary school students lack a hobby, even though lower secondary school students showed a great deal of interest in different leisure activities. They indicated an interest in trying out 11 leisure activities. Starting next autumn, the Finnish Model for Leisure Activities will include leisure activity try-outs for lower secondary school students.
This year's Finnish State Award for Foreign Translators goes to Sébastien Cagnoli, who has translated a wealth of quality literature from Finnish into French.
A new report from WHO “Health-enhancing physical activity in the European Union, 2024” presents the latest data on physical activity across the European Union (EU), reflecting on the progress achieved in making health-enhancing physical activity an integral part of people’s lives. The report reveals that there has been a notable improvement in the implementation of physical activity policies in the EU from 2015 to 2024.
On 24 January, the President of the Republic appointed Minister of Science and Culture Sari Multala, Master of Science in Economics, to the post of Minister of Climate and the Environment and Member of Parliament Mari-Leena Talvitie, Master of Science in Engineering, as a member of the Government and as the new Minister of Science and Culture.
The Ministry of Education and Culture is responsible for the development of education, science, cultural, sport and youth policies. The administrative branch of the Ministry of Education and Culture comprises 13 agencies, including Finnish National Agency for Education, Academy of Finland and Arts Promotion Centre Finland.
In international affairs, the Ministry participates in the work of major international organisations and regional councils, implements programmes and initiatives nationally and supports cultural cooperations and expatriate activities.
