Finnish newspapers report on Monday morning about a new development in the widely discussed initiative to limit phone use in schools.
According to the newsgroup Uutissuomalainen (USU), the government plans to amend the Basic Education Act to allow students to use smartphones or other mobile devices only with permission from a teacher or principal, and solely for learning purposes or for health-related needs.
Tabloid Ilta-Sanomat reported that the draft law which is set to be presented for public consultation would allow principals or teachers to confiscate a student's phone or mobile device if its use disrupts classroom activities.
Additionally, schools would be required to establish rules regarding the use and storage of phones or other mobile devices in their codes of conduct. This regulation would cover the entire school day, including lessons, breaks, and lunch periods.
According to USU, the push for this change has been largely driven by the National Coalition Party and Finns Party, with the legislation being prepared under the direction of Minister of Education Anders Adlercreutz (SPP).
The law change is expected to come into effect in August of next year, just before the start of the new school year.
Minister Adlercreutz recently spoke to All Points North about the pervasion of phones in schools and what is being done to reduce their hold on pupils. Listen to the episode via this embedded player, on Yle Areena, via Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
More printed textbooks
In related news, schools in Helsinki could soon offer more printed textbooks as an alternative to digital learning materials for its students, reports Helsingin Sanomat.
On Wednesday, Helsinki City Council unanimously approved MP Veronika Honkasalo's (Left) motion to increase the number of physical textbooks available in schools on Wednesday with a vote of 83-0.
Honkasalo noted there has been a rapid shift toward digital learning materials, particularly among high schools, in recent years. This shift has also raised concerns about the increasing screen time for children and adolescents throughout the day.
"Students say it is difficult to concentrate if everything is just digital. As a result, many parents end up buying books for their children," said Honkasalo, who has also served on the education committee in Parliament.
Schools in Finland have some discretion to decide what learning materials to purchase and some do provide textbooks for students with learning difficulties.
"But once digital licenses are purchased, they tend to be used," Honkasalo noted, adding that some individual schools have already started reintroducing physical textbooks for certain subjects.
Honkasalo said she proposed the motion because she believes all students should have equal access to printed textbooks.
The unanimous approval in the council was quite unusual, according to Honkasalo, who further noted that there seems to be consensus across party lines over this matter.
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Time to switch to winter tyres?
The latest weather forecast suggests it may soon be time to switch to winter tyres.
A series of low-pressure fronts will sweep across Finland this week, potentially bringing snowfall across the country, meteorologist Anne Latvala from weather service Foreca told tabloid Iltalehti.
While Monday won't be especially cold, according to Latvala, temperatures will fall to more winter-like levels as the week goes on.
From Tuesday evening onward, precipitation in northern Finland will fall mainly as snow, with snowfall likely in areas such as northern Ostrobothnia, Kainuu, and southern Lapland.
In southern and central Finland, Tuesday’s precipitation will still fall mostly as rain. The low-pressure fronts will also bring strong winds, with storm-level gusts along the west coast.
A new low-pressure system is set to approach Finland later this week, with its exact path still unclear. Temperatures will drop, making it possible for weekend precipitation in the south, including along the coast, to fall as snow.
Latvala advises monitoring the forecast for those planning to change to winter tyres. As temperatures drop, the risk of frost and black ice increases, with freezing conditions expected nationwide by week's end. To ensure safety, it's best to avoid driving on summer tyres in these conditions, she said.
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