Yle seeks accounts of how pupils raise failing grades

Yle is seeking accounts of how pupils who struggle at school improve failing grades, as a new law could make it more common for pupils to repeat a year.

Finland’s parliament approved the Orpo government’s proposal for a so-called skills guarantee this summer. Under the law, a pupil may be required to repeat a year if, despite support measures, they have not met the grade-level objectives in one or more subjects. The law is due to take effect next year.

Although concern has grown among Finnish decision-makers about young people’s skills, the number of pupils repeating a year has declined in Finland over a long period, Yle reports.

The broadcaster wants to hear about current conditions in schools, when pupils are held back and how failing grades are raised in practice. Experiences can be shared confidentially. Yle says it will not use responses without first contacting the person who submitted them. Reporter Karla Kempas can also be reached at [email protected].