A3 Book section, Chapters in research books
Suomalaisen koulutuspolitiikan tasa-arvopyrkimykset : heijastumia ja katvealueita kielikoulutuksessa (2023)
Equality in Finnish education policy : aspirations and blind spots in language education

Ennser-Kananen, J., Kilpeläinen, E., & Saarinen, T. (2023). Suomalaisen koulutuspolitiikan tasa-arvopyrkimykset : heijastumia ja katvealueita kielikoulutuksessa. In A. Pitkänen-Huhta, K. Mård-Miettinen, & T. Nikula (Eds.), Kielikoulutus mukana muutoksessa (pp. 267-290). Suomen soveltavan kielitieteen yhdistys ry. AFinLA-teema, 16. https://doi.org/10.30660/afinla.126217

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Ennser-Kananen, Johanna; Kilpeläinen, Erja; Saarinen, Taina

Parent publication: Kielikoulutus mukana muutoksessa

Parent publication editors: Pitkänen-Huhta, Anne; Mård-Miettinen, Karita; Nikula, Tarja

eISBN: 978-951-9388-77-9

Journal or series: AFinLA-teema

eISSN: 2814-6298

Publication year: 2023

Publication date: 28/11/2023

Number in series: 16

Pages range: 267-290

Number of pages in the book: 400

Publisher: Suomen soveltavan kielitieteen yhdistys ry

Place of Publication: Jyväskylä

Publication country: Finland

Publication language: Finnish

DOI: https://doi.org/10.30660/afinla.126217

Persistent website address: https://journal.fi/afinla/article/view/126217

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/92185

Abstract

In this article, we examine Finnish language education in relation to the historical developments of promoting equality in Finnish education policy. We focus on language education in basic education and discuss this topic through the lens of three cases: the comprehensive school reform, projects to develop language education, and heritage language teaching. Although, in international comparison, the Finnish educational system has good outcomes for certain equality measures (e.g., small differences in student achievement between schools), many aspects of equality have been overlooked. In addition, success in PISA and achieving European goals of mother tongue plus two languages may have caused a certain level of complacency or reluctance to develop the educational system. When striving for justice and equality in language education, it is important to understand the historical and societal structures that have maintained and reproduced inequality up to today.

Keywords: language teaching; equality (values); justice; primary and lower secondary education; language education; education policy

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2023

JUFO rating: 1