Schools are purposefully increasing physical activity

The comprehensive education act was amended on May 23, 2025 to include the wording: “Pre-primary and comprehensive education must also promote a physically active lifestyle.” The statutory obligation to promote a physically active lifestyle in pre-primary and comprehensive education entered into force on August 1, 2026. Janakkala municipality’s local curricula have also been updated to reflect this change in legislation.

In Janakkala, a physically active lifestyle is seen as an important part of children’s and young people’s wellbeing, learning, and the everyday life and operational culture of the school community. The objective is that movement is a natural part of every pre-primary and school day and that it supports learning, participation, functional capacity and holistic wellbeing. Additionally, the goal is to strengthen the significance of physical activity as a holistic life skill in the everyday life of every child and young person.

Movement has been shown to have positive effects on, among other things, alertness, concentration, learning, motor development, mental wellbeing, as well as psychological adaptation and coping ability. In addition to health and learning benefits, promoting a physically active lifestyle strengthens students’ sense of participation and supports the everyday life and operational culture of the school community.

A physically active lifestyle is promoted as part of daily activities, for example through pedagogical solutions that increase activity during lessons, by making versatile use of different learning environments, with measures that encourage activity during recess, in transition situations and at school-wide events, by using sports equipment in varied ways, and through club and hobby activities. The aim is to create a culture of activity in which every child and young person has equal opportunities to move and participate according to their own abilities.

Activities are planned and developed in cooperation with children, young people, guardians, staff and various municipal actors. Promoting a physically active lifestyle is a shared task of the entire educational community.

Additionally, Turenki coeducational school offers sports-focused instruction. Students are selected annually for the sports class based on aptitude tests.