Starting in 2016, Finnish schools will replace letter lessons in capital letters and calligraphy with typing lessons on the keyboard.

Most people in the current environment very rarely write something with a pen or pencil. Basically, all texts are typed on keyboards - virtual keyboards of mobile devices or real keyboards of PCs and laptops. And this trend is only increasing.

The Finnish authorities have decided to keep up with the times , and replace the lessons on learning to write with capital letters and calligraphy for schoolchildren with lessons on typing on the keyboard. As far as one can understand , learning to write will also continue, but here the ability to write text in block letters will be considered sufficient. In other words, primary school students are taught mainly to type, and not to write something manually in words .
')
In fairness it should be noted that the penmanship lessons are also preserved, but already in an optional form, that is, their attendance is not mandatory. At electives, students will be taught to write letters and words with a pen on paper. Innovation comes into force in the fall of 2016.

Of course, this initiative of the authorities causes a certain resistance of some parents and officials - after all, not all students have computers at home, and not all schools have enough PCs for training. However, most Finns favorably perceived the news of the cancellation of the calligraphy lessons.

Some experts note that the lessons of writing develop fine motor skills in children, which also contributes to the development of certain areas of the brain. Therefore, it is proposed to add also lessons on “work” (do something with your own hands) or drawing as an alternative to writing lessons, in the aspect mentioned above.

Via bbc