The Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture on Friday launched a reform program on basic education aimed to improve students' learning initiatives, the ministry said in a press release.

In connection with the results of the program for international student assessment (PISA) in 2012, the Ministry released a reform project on basic education named "Future Basic School -- New Growth."

To implement the program, the ministry set two working groups, aiming at improving the present situation of basic education from two aspects. The first is called "Ability and Learning in Society", the other is "Motivation of Study, School Satisfaction and Teaching Methods."

In terms of "Ability and Learning in Society", the goal is seeking effective means to narrow the socio-economically related differences between genders, races, regions, schools and so on, while improving students' learning outcomes.

In respect of "Motivation of Study, School Satisfaction and Teaching Methods", Finland will actively improve teaching methods and curriculum arrangement to enhance students' satisfaction with schools and interests in learning.

It is also considered important to encourage applying of new technologies to the reforms on teaching environment and teaching materials, such as adopting teaching games and other innovative methods, in order to create a new student-friendly educational environment.

The project also includes reforms on training for teachers and other educators, ensuring educators' knowledge, skill and expertise.

The ministry set up a steering group led by the Minister of Education Krista Kiuru to coordinate between the two working groups and to direct the implementation of the program.

The steering group consists of not only officials from the ministry of Education and Culture and the Board of Education, but also representatives from non-governmental organizations, including the Finnish Associations of Teachers, Association of Finnish Principles, Finnish Parents League and others.

Additionally the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture will also arrange network-based questionnaires and regional activities to encourage the public to actively participate in the discussions on the reform of basic education in Finland.

Minister of Education and Science Krista Kiuru indicated that the implementation of the program would be as open as possible and multiparty interaction would be sought. The results of the program will be widely applied in reforms on basic schools around Finland in the future, she added.

Finland has been well-known for its high level basic education and equal educational opportunities. The country has been keen on exporting education models and concepts to developing countries in recent years.

However, in the latest PISA published in December 2013, Finland's ranking fell considerably from the top to the 12th, stirring up concerns in Finland. On the same day when the PISA results were announced, the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture held a press conference. "We must take strong measures to develop the Finnish education," promised Kiuru at the conference. Endi

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