National Learning to Learn Assessment 2024

What is it about?

There is no clear reason for the observed decline in the learning outcomes of pupils in basic education. This study investigates the complex issue by first measuring the levels of competence, motivation, and attitudes towards studying in school in 2024, then comparing them to the data sets from 2001, 2012 and 2017 based on the same assessment. Furthermore, the connection between a) pupils’ performance on the competence tasks of the research and b) their final grades in mathematics and mother tongue on the school-leaving certificate is examined to determine if the performance is at the same level or if the decline in learning outcomes can also be explained by pupils’ varying efforts on the competence tasks.

Reasons for the decline in learning outcomes have been speculated in public discussions, such as the observed segregation of schools in larger cities, the diversity in the backgrounds of pupils and school support arrangements. These viewpoints are studied by examining whether educational equality is realised, or whether the differences between regions, schools and classes have grown. At the same time, the project explores how the placement of pupils from different socio-economic backgrounds, with intensified and special support, or with immigrant backgrounds in different schools and classes explains the variation in outcomes. Furthermore, the role of weighted-curriculum education in explaining variation in outcomes is examined.

In this three-year project, nationally representative data will be collected from students in spring 2024 from 120 schools across Finland. In addition, there will be questionnaires for teachers and principals.

The first results of the assessment will be reported at the beginning of 2025. A publication consisting of peer-reviewed articles will be published at the end of 2025. The material collected will be published as applicable in the Finnish Social Science Data Archive for further research use.

You can find the privacy notice of the project in Finnish here and in Swedish here.