Every year, schools all over Finland take fitness tests known as Move! for fifth and eighth grade students. This year’s results showed a decline in endurance, but exercise skills were at the same level as last year’s results.
Pupils’ results deteriorated the most in the 20-meter running test, a beep test in which participants ran back and forth along a 20-meter line at increasing speeds for as long as they could. As the test continues, the time between the beeps of the signal shortens.
41 percent of fifth-grade girls managed to run for just over three minutes, 460 feet long, while 45 percent of boys in the same class ran for up to four minutes, or 580 meters.
"From a doctor’s point of view, it is clear that there is a declining trend among fifth grade students," said Tommi Vasankari, which leads the FAQ Institute, a health-focused research organization.
He also noted that poor fitness affects children’s sleep quality and can increase restlessness in the classroom.
In terms of the gender gap, boys showed more upper body flexibility than girls. The test also showed some regional difference in that children in urban centers performed better than those living in rural areas.
According to Vasankari, not being able to walk to school or having few opportunities to engage in organized sports can affect the worst performance in rural areas.
In 2018, some schools suspended Move! tests after the student died during the endurance part of the exercise.