Estonia eyes Finland-inspired fitness tracking for schoolchildren by 2028

Estonia is considering changes to how it tracks children’s physical fitness. The Riigikogu recently discussed boosting national activity levels as a key priority. A new approach, inspired by Finland, could introduce regular fitness assessments for students. On 4 July, lawmakers debated the importance of physical activity for public health. Signe Riisalo, Chair of the Social Affairs Committee, backed plans to monitor children’s fitness but noted that testing would not start before 2028. The Social Affairs Committee has already asked the Ministry of Education and Research about progress on a database to track these abilities.

Estonia aims to follow Finland’s Suomi liikkeelle programme, which tests fifth and eighth graders every year. Finnish research shows that low activity costs the country €3.2 billion annually. Raising active participation from 23% to 50% could save Finland around €1 billion.

The Estonian Olympic Committee, the Ministry of Education and Research, and the Ministry of Culture share responsibility for youth fitness. The education minister and the EOK Secretary General have discussed using a representative sample to monitor progress. Meanwhile, Estonia’s updated PE curriculum now focuses on movement skills rather than grading speed or strength. The proposal remains in early stages with no immediate implementation. A new system could eventually provide data on children’s fitness across the country. The change would align with broader efforts to improve public health and reduce costs linked to inactivity.