Aim and objectives:
Health literacy, including critical thinking, is taught through an independent and mandatory school subject called “health education”.
Target group:
Pupils in primary and secondary schools.
Method:
In grades 1–6, health education is taught as an independent component in a cluster of subjects called ‘environmental studies’. In grades 7–9, and general upper secondary school, health education is a stand-alone subject. Already in lower grades, pupils are taught to assess information and to select valid information sources. Then in higher grades they are taught to assess information using several criteria. Later, they are also taught about the reliability of information as well as differences between lay information and scientific information. Health-related competencies, as well as media literacy and digital skills, are taught via crosscutting themes running through all school subjects.
Outcomes:
The curriculum improves the ability of children and adolescents to access valid health information.
Added value:
Teaching health literacy as a mandatory subject has the potential to reduce health literacy disparities within schools.
Teaching health literacy as a mandatory school subject – Finland
