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14.1.2026 | The Ministry of Education and Culture carried out a two-year pre-primary education trial in a total of 148 municipalities between 2021 and 2024. Altogether 37,357 children took part. They were placed in the trial group and control group by drawing lots. Parents, carers and teachers were satisfied with the trial and the two-year pre-primary education trial slightly increased the participation rate of five-year-olds.

3.11.2025 | The Ministry of Education and Culture has granted the first five authorisations to provide general upper secondary education in English. The authorisations were granted to Gradia, Jyväskylä Educational Consortium Gradia, and to the cities of Helsinki, Oulu, Pori and Tampere. This is part of the Programme of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s Government.

9.10.2025 | Students from non-EU countries will in future be required to pay tuition fees in both general upper secondary education and vocational education and training. These students will therefore no longer be included in the system of central government transfers to local government. At the same time, providers of vocational education and training will be permitted to sell commissioned education leading to a qualification also to citizens of EU Member States and EEA countries.

11.2.2021 | The minimum school leaving age will be raised to 18 years. This first applies to those school-leavers who finish comprehensive school this spring. The Ministry of Education and Culture provides information on the reform to young people in the social media. School-leavers finishing comprehensive school will also be sent information on the reform to their home address.

12.9.2023 | The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has published its annual Education at a Glance (EAG) publication, which consists of internationally comparable indicators of education systems. This year’s report focuses on vocational education and training. The report mainly covers 2021.

2.8.2021 | Extending compulsory education to upper secondary education will cause changes to legislation concerning work carried out by people under 18 years of age. The starting point is that young people’s work shifts must not overlap with instruction that requires their attendance. The changes will enter into force on 1 August 2021.

23.1.2024 | Minister of Education Anna-Maja Henriksson, Minister Youth, Sport and Physical Activity Sandra Bergqvist and Minister of Science and Culture Sari Multala together with the Ministry's specialists will be present for several sessions at Educa on 26 and 27 January.

9.10.2023 | The Ministry of Education and Culture’s proportion of the 2024 budget proposal is EUR 8.0 billion, which is EUR 274 million more than in the 2023 Budget. The budget proposal implements the Programme of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo's Government by raising the level of education and competence of the entire population. The measures in the budget proposal aim to strengthen the effectiveness of science and improve the conditions for conducting research and development.

5.8.2022 | For the 2023 budget proposal, the Ministry of Education and Culture proposes an appropriation of EUR 7.6 billion for its branch of government, which is EUR 175 million more than in the 2022 Budget.

19.9.2022 | The budget proposal for 2023 of Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s Government will continue to invest in education and culture. The budget proposal helps implement the key objectives in the Government Programme of raising the level of education and competence, bridging learning gaps and increasing educational equality. Arts and culture will be used to boost conditions and strengthen engagement in creative work.

12.1.2023 | The Ministry of Education and Culture has published the first bildung review, which provides an overview of development in the Ministry’s administrative branch over the past decades. The latest stage, which began in the 1990s, is characterised by a decline in the achieved learning outcomes, the plateauing of the rising level of education among Finns, as well as a gradual decrease in public input into education.

14.4.2023 | Finland aims to become the world’s leading developer and user of sustainable digitalisation in teaching and education and training. This aim will also promote equal opportunities for learning and development. The common policies published on 14 April 2023 point the way for the sector's digital transformation.

7.12.2021 | Dear friends, Over the last couple of years, European societies have been faced with an unprecedented amount of sudden change and turmoil. It has been impossible to miss how immensely important resiliency is for our societies. Our ability to adapt to new circumstances has been greatly tested, underlining the need to invest in skills – that is to say, to invest in people. Europe’s future wellbeing ...

2.3.2021 | The deadline for the joint application procedure for education after comprehensive school has been extended due to the coronavirus situation. This spring’s deadline for applying for vocational education and training, general upper secondary education as well as for preparatory education after comprehensive school and vocational education and training organised in the form of intensive special needs support, ends at 15.00 on 7 April 2021.

27.5.2021 | The Government appointed Dr Minna Kelhä as Director General of the Finnish National Agency for Education. The duration of the position is for five years, beginning on 7 June 2021 and ending on 6 June 2026.

27.9.2021 | The Government submitted its budget proposal for 2022 to Parliament on 27 September. The proposed appropriations for the administrative branch of the Ministry of Education and Culture total EUR 7.41 million. Next year’s budget will continue to focus on improving quality and equity in education and on safeguarding funding for science and research. Funds will also be allocated for rebuilding the cultural sector in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

8.6.2026 | Minister of Science and Culture Mari-Leena Talvitie has presented seven State Awards for Public Information in acknowledgment of the dissemination of significant public information. The award ceremony will be celebrated on 8 June in Oulu, which is a European Capital of Culture this year.

2.3.2023 | Minister of the Interior Krista Mikkonen, Minister of Local Government Sirpa Paatero, Minister of Employment Tuula Haatainen and Minister of Education Li Andersson stress the importance of smooth daily life for people who have fled Ukraine. Those who have secured a municipality of residence will have the same rights, services and duties as permanent residents in Finland.

22.9.2025 | The Government proposes to update legislation on children and young people’s health checks. Under the proposal, the timing and content of health checks in child health clinics, school and student healthcare, and oral healthcare would in future be regulated in a government decree instead of an act. The health check in student healthcare at upper secondary level would be combined with the pre-conscription health examination, and an electronic health questionnaire would be introduced. 

22.12.2025 | The timing and content of health checks at child health clinics and schools, and in student healthcare and oral healthcare will be regulated in future by government decree. Upper secondary level student health checks and preliminary health examinations for compulsory military service will be combined, and an electronic health questionnaire will be introduced.