An OECD survey shows that Finnish early childhood education and care (ECEC) stands out for active cooperation with families. In Finland, staff communicate and organise events for families more often than in most other participating countries. Stress levels among ECEC and pre-primary staff and leaders are lower in Finland than elsewhere, but staff shortages are a major source of stress.
Index adjustments have been made to client fees for early childhood education and care and to the related income thresholds. From the beginning of August 2026, the maximum fee will be EUR 335 and the minimum EUR 32. If there is more than one child in a family, the fee for the family’s second child is at most 40% of the fee for the family’s first child, i.e. a maximum of EUR 134. The fee for the family’s next children is 20% of the fee charged for the youngest child.
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.
Minister of Science and Culture Mari-Leena Talvitie has presented the Finland Prize in culture to ten artists and organisations, one of which received an honorary diploma.
The international results of the OECD Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) 2024 were published earlier this autumn. They have now been supplemented with Finland’s national results. Finland participated in the main TALIS 2024, which focused on lower secondary school teachers and principals, and in the TALIS Starting Strong module, which targeted staff in early childhood education and care and pre-primary education. Finland's TALIS results will be discussed at a seminar on 20 January 2026.
Minister of Science and Culture Mari-Leena Talvitie will visit New York from 1 to 4 December to strengthen partnerships between Finland and the United States in culture and the creative industries, with a special focus on visual arts.
The Ministry of Education and Culture is responsible for the development of education, science, cultural, sport and youth policies. The administrative branch of the Ministry of Education and Culture comprises 13 agencies, including Finnish National Agency for Education, Academy of Finland and Arts Promotion Centre Finland.
In international affairs, the Ministry participates in the work of major international organisations and regional councils, implements programmes and initiatives nationally and supports cultural cooperations and expatriate activities.
