Director of Education Mari Palviainen hopes Tampere’s schools will be proud of their work
Mari Palviainen still has to navigate the maze-like corridors of the Frenckell office building. Like many others, she doesn’t have a fixed workstation; instead, she settles with her laptop wherever space happens to be available.
Starting her role in August has also meant dealing with significant changes. The City of Tampere launched negotiations affecting all staff and introduced a strict savings programme.
The number of Directors of Education dropped from three to two at the turn of the year, and operations are still overseen by the Head of Basic Education. Despite the increased workload, Palviainen remains confident that everything can be managed.
– Our division of responsibilities with my fellow Director of Education will be clarified early this year. My remit still includes matters related to safety, school support services and HR issues. The school teams have been split between us, she explains.
Absences shouldn’t become too easy
Last year’s theme for comprehensive schools was strengthening the culture of intervention, which is closely linked to the rise in pupil absences. According to Palviainen, Wilma alerts alone are not enough; schools must dare to ask guardians about the reasons and necessity for absences. Ultimately, responsibility for school attendance always lies with the guardian.
– The number of leave requests initiated by guardians has increased. Their holiday times don’t always coincide with school holidays, but the threshold for absences must not become too low.
Pupils have a strong right to basic education, and the law is clear that granting absences should be strict.
– Schools must stick to this, Palviainen emphasises.
Schools should be the driving force of their communities
Mari Palviainen is pleased with the standard of basic education in Tampere and finds it inspiring. However, she warns against complacency. The world and pupils’ environments are changing, and teaching must respond accordingly.
Mari Palviainen hopes schools will take pride in their own area and city. Schools should be the driving force of their community, and both staff and pupils should feel proud of their school, she encourages.
The Director of Education also reminds schools of their core mission: delivering high-quality pedagogy to pupils. Strong teaching, she stresses, is the most effective way to support pupils’ well-being.
The vision for basic education in Tampere is ambitious: to achieve the best learning outcomes among Finland’s six largest cities. This requires the best teaching practices, sufficient funding, and consistency – ensuring that all schools maintain a similar standard and key elements are implemented equally well.
– Schools can, however, retain their individuality, as they do now.
Choir singing and cooking as a counterbalance to work Tampere’s Directors of Education all have a background as headteachers, which Palviainen sees as essential for the role. In Tampere, headteachers also bear financial responsibility, so they understand the cost of education – a clear advantage when stepping into a director’s position.
Palviainen enjoyed her years as a headteacher and the responsibility that came with the role, but had considered applying for a director’s post if the opportunity arose.
To balance the demands of her work, she cooks, reads, and sings. She has sung in the Tampere Opera Choir since 1997. Her favourite places in Tampere include Tampere Hall and Sorsapuisto, where she once studied for exams.
– My current job takes a lot of time, but I’m hoping to stay in the choir for a couple more years, Palviainen smiles.
Mari Palviainen
- Has worked for the City of Tampere since 2002
- Served as a headt eacher for fifteen years in various Tampere schools
- Holds a Master of Arts degree in Finnish language from Tampere University
- Family includes four adult sons and a husband
