The principal, in collaboration with the staff, is responsible for the quality of the work that takes place in the respective school. In each school, a clear policy must be formulated in accordance with the basic elements of education, goals and focus elements of the elementary school law, provisions in the main curriculum of elementary schools and the school policy of the relevant municipality. At the same time, internal evaluation takes into account the working methods and uniqueness of each school as stated in the school curriculum. The school curriculum must outline the priorities and plans for internal evaluation.

In every school, the success and quality of the school work should be evaluated in a systematic way. There are various ways of evaluating a school’s own work, but it is important that the system used is suitable for the work of the respective school. When working on internal evaluation, the relationship with the goals set out in the school curriculum must be explained. Each school develops methods that take into account the school’s uniqueness to assess whether and to what extent the goals have been achieved. Methods of internal evaluation take into account the subjects that are being worked on at any given time.

Internal evaluation should be integrated into the school’s daily work, promote knowledge, competence and reflection on the work and increase staff’s awareness of responsibility. Democratic working methods for internal evaluation, where the viewpoints of those involved in school work are taken into account, contribute to increased quality in the work. The results of the internal evaluation shall be used for school work improvements after consultation with the school board.

Evaluation and control of municipalities

The school board, on behalf of the local government, shall supervise that school work in primary schools complies with the Primary School Act, regulations and the main curriculum of primary schools. This applies to both schools run by the municipality and those run by other parties. The school board is responsible for evaluating school work taking into account the circumstances and individual characteristics of each school. The assessment can be based on many types of information. There you can e.g. point out information about internal evaluation, evaluation of the school curriculum and school work plan, implementation of the municipality’s school policy, numerical information and other data as appropriate. The school board is also responsible for the primary school evaluating its internal work in a targeted manner. It is important that the school board follows up after the results of the school’s internal evaluation contribute to increased quality and improved results in all of its work.

The local government must ensure that information about school activities is communicated to the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, school staff, parents and students. The local government must also communicate relevant information within the municipality about audits and surveys of school activities.

The results of audits and surveys should be followed up in a targeted manner, with follow-up taking into account the subject matter and results.

Evaluation and monitoring by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports

The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture supervises that municipalities fulfill the obligations stipulated in the Act on Compulsory Schools, regulations and the National Curriculum Guide for Compulsory Schools. The Ministry’s regular external evaluation consists of audits, surveys and research, as well as general information gathering, analysis and dissemination. The Ministry draws up a three-year plan for external evaluation, surveys and audits, which aim to provide information on the implementation of school management in compulsory schools.

The results of all surveys and audits are published on the Ministry’s website. The reports and improvement plans of local governments based on the results of external evaluations will also be published there. Emphasis is placed on examining whether school work complies with the provisions of laws and regulations and the goals that local governments and individual schools have set for themselves. The results must be followed up, and the Ministry’s follow-up is based on the results at each time.