Schools in Motion programme was elected Education Deed of the Year

The Ministry of Education and Research presented national education awards at the Teacher of the Year gala in Jõhvi Concert Hall on 5 October. The educational programme Schools in Motion of the Move Lab of the University of Tartu Faculty of Medicine was elected the Education Deed of the Year. At the gala, the award was handed over to representatives of the Move Lab of the University of Tartu Institute of Sport Sciences and Physiotherapy, Merike Kull, Maarja Park and Katrin Mägi. 

The Ministry of Education and Research grants the Education Deed of the Year award to recognise initiatives that have significantly contributed to the development of learning and teaching. Schools in Motion is a research-based educational programme developed by the University of Tartu’s Move Lab in cooperation with Estonian schools, aiming to design a movement-friendly school culture in Estonia.  

Merike Kull, Associate Professor in Health Education and Head of the Move Lab, said the programme has been well accepted by schools, and it contributes to solving a serious problem in society – children’s lack of physical activity. “Children’s physical activity not only contributes to their health but also their learning and school happiness,” she said. 

According to Kull, the programme Schools in Motion is expanding day by day in terms of the number of schools, school levels and content. “According to a recent survey, physical activity has become a natural part of the school day in Schools in Motion. For example, they have year-round outdoor recesses, active recesses, movement breaks during lessons and movement-related hobby activities. After all, the aim is to be active on every school day. Joosep, the figure given us as an award, would definitely be happy to study in a School in Motion,” Kull said. 

Presenting the nominees on its website, the Ministry of Education and Research says that, based on research, the lack of physical activity has a negative impact on schoolchildren’s health and well-being, learning outcomes and school happiness. The University of Tartu Move Lab provides educators with idea workshops and training courses on creating a physical-activity-supporting school environment. Greater enjoyment of movement contributes to students’ health and well-being, learning ability and better social relationships at school. Student involvement is an integral part of the programme; for example, students are trained to be play leaders and organise active play recesses for their peers. 

A cooperation network carrying the same values has been set up, and the member schools meet regularly in seminars to share their experiences. The vision of the Move Lab is for all educational institutions in Estonia to become Schools in Motion, and the lab works systematically and consistently to achieve this. In 2024, the Schools in Motion has 211 member schools in Estonia.