läksyjä

läksyjä refers to school assignments given to students to complete outside class. The singular form is läksy, and läksyjä is the plural used to describe multiple assignments. The word originates in Finnish, from Swedish läxa meaning lesson or exercise.

In the Finnish education system, läksyjä are common across primary and secondary education, but the exact amount and nature of homework are mainly determined by teachers within the framework of the national core curriculum. Tasks may include reading, problem sets, writing assignments, or practical exercises, and increasingly may involve digital submissions or online resources. The goals are to reinforce learning, prepare for class, foster independent work, and support skill development, while taking into account a student’s age and workload.

Guidelines emphasize that homework should be purposeful and aligned with learning objectives, not overly burdensome, and should consider family life and individual differences. In practice, the amount of homework tends to be modest in earlier grades and may increase with grade level or subject, but there is ongoing discussion about balance and equity.

Research on homework shows mixed results: in primary school, the time spent on homework often has little measurable effect on achievement, while in higher levels some positive associations appear for specific tasks or groups of students. In the digital era, läksyjä increasingly incorporate online platforms, with teachers assigning tasks that complement classroom work.

See also: Finnish education system, homework policy.