School health survey results provide more information on the well-being of children and young people in Tuusula 

The School Health Survey is an important source of information for Tuusula’s education and leisure services, and its results are used to assess the well-being of children and young people and to develop services. This year, the survey was conducted by the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) in March–April, and the results were published in September. The respondents were pupils in grades 4–5 and 8–9, as well as first- and second-year students in upper secondary school and vocational education. 

One of the objectives of Tuusula’s Child-Friendly Municipality initiative is to analyse research, experience and official data on children and young people in such a way that, instead of using averages, it is possible to analyse the situation of different groups of children, such as internal regional differences within the municipality, says Heli Hakulinen, Development Manager and coordinator of the Child-Friendly Municipality of Tuusula project. Schools

in Tuusula carefully review the school-specific responses and also discuss the results with pupils and guardians. The results have also been examined more extensively in cooperation between service areas, and the analysis work is continuing. The results for the Central Uusimaa welfare area and Tuusula are consistent. 

Key findings compared to the previous survey 

When examining the results of schools in Tuusula, positive developments have been seen in several subject areas compared to the results of the previous 2023 survey. 

– I am pleased that results have improved in several areas. Schools have done a good job, not forgetting the important role played by stakeholders and guardians. I am particularly pleased with the reduction in bullying and the increase in peace at work. I would also like to highlight the increase in club activities and opportunities to participate in them. Increased physical activity also improves well-being, which is particularly evident in the results for upper secondary school students, notes Acting Head of Education Jyrki Aronen. 

Bullying has decreased and the working atmosphere has improved among pupils in grades 4–5. More and more pupils also enjoy going to school. Primary school pupils feel that they get on well with their teachers. There has been a slight decline in this age group’s willingness to express their opinions in class. Well over half of the respondents feel that they have been involved in planning school-related matters in many different ways.  

Pupils in grades 8–9 are engaging in more leisure activities, and physical activity is becoming an integral part of more and more people’s lives. For example, the proportion of pupils who meet the physical activity recommendations has increased – 31% of pupils in grades 8 and 9 in Tuusula engage in at least one hour of physical activity per day. In 2023, the corresponding figure was 22%. The accessibility of hobbies, i.e. knowledge of hobby opportunities in the area, which is central to the objectives of the Child-Friendly Municipality initiative, has also increased among pupils. Upper secondary school pupils’ perception of their own health has improved. Their enjoyment of school has remained unchanged, but there has been a slight decline in their experience of getting along with teachers. The majority of secondary school pupils feel that the atmosphere in their class or group supports the expression of opinions, and there has also been an increase in this area. 

High school students are satisfied with their lives and school lunches. A decrease in smoking has also been highlighted in the results. 

– Overall, children and young people in Tuusula are more satisfied with their lives, with boys being more satisfied than girls. The majority of our pupils feel that they can be themselves at school and feel safe there, says Helena Palola, Head of Growth and Learning Support, highlighting the positive results. 

Identified areas for development and worrying changes

There are also areas for improvement when compared to the previous survey. 

Pupils in grades 4–5 would like to see improvements in school meals, more opportunities to participate in planning school activities, and more opportunities for discussion. This age group has been found to be exercising less.  

Pupils in grades 8–9 want opportunities to talk with adults. The increase in the use of nicotine pouches and the decrease in the use of contraception are causes for concern. 

– There are already several ways in which pupil participation has been improved in everyday school life and structures. Good examples of this are the school lunch groups operating in schools and the pupil teams in some schools. Pupils are also increasingly involved in various meetings and discussions. However, experiences of participation can be increased in schools, for example, by increasing open dialogue on various topics. This will give pupils a greater voice and allow them to express their opinions more, comments Aronen. 

“Learning increases well-being, and well-being increases learning.” We cannot achieve this through school measures alone. To increase well-being, we need close cooperation between different actors at both the municipal and regional levels, Palola points out. 

Further information about the School Health Survey is available on the THL website:  

Further information:
Head of Growth and Learning Support Helena Palola, helena.palola@tuusula.fi, +358 40 314 3369
Acting Head of Education Jyrki Aronen, jyrki.aronen@tuusula.fi, 040 314 4273 Heli Hakulinen,
Development Manager, Education and Culture, heli.hakulinen@tuusula.fi, 040 314 3084 

This content has been translated using AI