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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.

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.

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.

30.1.2025 | A working group preparing an overhaul of student financial aid has assessed the current situation in student financial aid and key development needs in the student financial aid system. Needs for development that were deemed essential include reinstating indexation and restructuring interest assistance and loan granting practices to improve the security of student loans. The working group's proposals were submitted to Minister Sandra Bergqvist on 30 January.

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.

18.6.2020 | The Ministry of Education and Culture is launching an extensive programme for guidance counselling to support guidance counselling in primary education, lower secondary education, general upper secondary education and vocational education and training. The programme is part of the extension of compulsory education. Approximately EUR 19 million per year will be allocated from 2021 onwards to support guidance counselling.

26.4.2024 | Prime Minister Orpo’s Government spending limits discussion 15–16 April 2024 New adjustment measures strengthening public finances 1 (6) Impact on general government finances, total, EUR million Impact on central government, EUR million Estimated ...

16.4.2020 | On Thursday 16 April, the Government submitted to Parliament its proposal for the General Government Fiscal Plan for 2021-2024. Agreement was reached on the General Government Fiscal Plan in connection with the government session on spending limits on 8 April. The Government has increased appropriations in the General Government Fiscal Plan for extending compulsory education and for implementing the reform of central government transfers for performing arts, among others.

26.4.2024 | VALTIONEUVOSTO PL 23, 00023 Valtioneuvosto vn.fi p. 0295 16001 STATSRÅDET PB 23, 00023 Statsrådet vn.fi/sv Tfn 0295 16001 1(5) Prime Minister Orpo’s Government spending limits discussion 15–16 April 2024 Entries in the meeting minutes State of gen...

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.

14.6.2024 | On 14 June 2024, the ministerial working group on employment and entrepreneurship adopted an action plan to help people who have fled Ukraine. In accordance with the Government Programme, the aim is to help Ukrainians enter the labour market and to support their participation in Finnish society.

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.

6.4.2020 | The Government will continue to impose restrictions on contact teaching at all levels of education. This means that the exceptional arrangements for education will be extended until 13 May. Teaching will continue to be organised in alternative ways by means of distance learning and other similar arrangements. The Government still recommends that children in early childhood education and care, pre-primary education and in years 1 to 3 of comprehensive school education stay at home, if possible.

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 ...

2.3.2023 | 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.

4.8.2020 | The Ministry of Education and Culture and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare have updated the instructions related to the coronavirus epidemic they issued to education providers and educational institutions in the spring. The most important thing is, also from now on, to prevent infections, ensure good hygiene, avoid unnecessary close contacts, and arrange teaching premises more spaciously than usual.

9.6.2020 | The Ministry of Education and Culture is launching a three-year programme for assessing the quality and equality of vocational education and training. Over EUR 270 million has been allocated for 2020–2022 for improving learning opportunities and outcomes, increasing wellbeing and a sense of community, supporting education providers to reform their procedures and practices, and strengthening the capacity of education providers to respond to changes in their operating environment.

20.6.2023 | Sanna Marin spoke on the outgoing Government’s farewell visit to the Presidential Palace on 20 June 2023. Speech to be checked against delivery.

20.1.2023 | After a COVID-induced hiatus, the Educa Fair is being held once again at Messukeskus Helsinki on 27–28 January. The Ministry of Education and Culture’s stand can be found in area 6n60. Minister of Education Li Andersson, Minister of Science and Culture Petri Honkonen and Permanent Secretary Anita Lehikoinen will be visiting the Ministry's stand on both days of the fair.