Students at the Seinäjoki Middle School are coming up with unique ways to raise money in an effort to boost funding for an upcoming school trip.
In the past students have fundraised by shovelling snow and constructing a rubbish bin shed.
However, this autumn, as motorists are supposed to change over to winter tyres according to weather conditions, the students are offering a tyre changing service.
For 20 euros, drivers can watch a team of the youths switch out their tyres, while enjoying an included cup of coffee and a sausage.
Bookings for the service were filled in short order, according to teacher Tuomo Hippi, who added that supervising adults check the students' tyre changing work.
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Tyre changing itself is not an official part of the so-called Jopo (flexible basic education) curriculum in which 12 of the school's students are participating. However, undertaking such an effort is something the educators want to encourage.
Hippi said that the tyre changing exercise is a way to get students involved in their classes through practical activities.
"We've developed teaching methods that increase the students' participation as well as cohesion within the school community," Hippi explained.
The Jopo classes are different from others in their emphasis on practicality, additional projects and work.
"Otherwise they would be doing normal school work with books and pencils," Hippi explained, adding that smaller classes also offer more opportunities.
"Yes, there's something more for teachers too," he said.
Jopo drawing more interest
The flexible basic education model is not new, but changes to Finland's Compulsory Education Act will likely increase demand for such programmes, according to Sari Jokinen, a specialist at the teachers' union OAJ.
Other schools around the country would be interested in expanding flexible basic education programmes, but some municipalities have given up such aspirations as they can be difficult to implement, she explained.
In order to organise students into smaller groups, more teachers are needed, for example.
Seinäjoki Middle School teacher Hippi said increasing numbers of students are interested in the Jopo programme.
The flexible model isn't about special education, he explained, as not every student is motivated by classroom-style teaching. Jopo is more of a curriculum with customisable goals.
