TDs and Senators call to shorten Irish school days and push for ‘Finland-style’ model

Do you agree that school days should be shortened?

For pupils in grades 1-2 (aged 7-8), the school day typically lasts for about 4-5 hours, while pupils in grades 3-9 (aged 9-16) may have around 5-7 hours of school daily.

One thing Finnish schools encourage is more breaks for students, something that is lacking in Irish schools, according to a group of TDs and Senators calling for this change.

A report by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education recommended that Irish students adopt a similar framework to that of Finnish schools.

Chairperson Cathal Crowe TD and the team travelled to Finland to learn more about their framework.

They said Finnish schools had fewer subjects in their curricula and encouraged students to take 15-minute breaks between classes.

They praised the school's focus on the pupils' well-being by having more recreational time, giving pupils time to rest and reflect between lessons. The schools in Finland also ensure they have more time to spend in nature, for exercise, and for communal school meals.

"The Finnish Curriculum has fewer subjects than the Irish one. It allows for shorter days and breaks of 15 minutes between lessons," the report reads.

The team behind the report has urged the Government to seriously consider making these changes, as they believe the Irish school system is due for a significant overhaul.

They also called for Irish schools to focus more on outdoor activities and nature in a bid to help students who feel overwhelmed, especially by the current curriculum.

Do you think Irish school days should be shortened?