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Questions and answers related to compulsory education This page provides answers to frequently asked questions on the extension of compulsory education. Questions and answers related to compulsory education Free of charge Guidance and supervision ...

3.3.2026 | AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND CULTURE AND THE UNIVERSITY OF EASTERN FINLAND FOR 2025–2028 1. Common objectives of higher education institutions The Ministry of Education and Culture and the University of Eastern Finland have agre...

7.10.2019 | A budget of EUR 6.8 billion is proposed for the Ministry of Education and Culture’s administrative branch for 2020. The draft budget measures seek to increase the skills level in Finland, make education more equitable, improve the quality of education and enhance the wellbeing of children and young people. Financing for the arts and culture will support creative work and production and promote equal access to the arts and culture.

28.4.2017 | The government has on 28 April 2017 agreed on the general government finance plan for 2018-2021. The level of the allocated appropriation for the Ministry of Education and Culture is 6.3 billion euros in 2021. Additional 340 million euros will be allocated to know-how, of which 200 million will come from the budget and 140 million for education and research will be allocated as capitalisation.

15.2.2012 | The administration of education and science policy in the Ministry of Education and Culture has been reorganised. General education and vocational education and training now form the Department for Education Policy, and higher education and science policy come under the Department for Higher Education and Science Policy. The whole range of adult education was compiled to form the Division for Adult Education and Training, which also takes care of student financial aid.

24.5.2024 | Minister of Science and Culture Sari Multala has granted EUR 3.3 million in discretionary government grants to those operating in the cultural and creative industries. Structural support is part of the Sustainable Growth Programme and is designed to create innovative services and to devise novel production and operating procedures.

12.6.2025 | On 12 June, the Government appointed Kirsti Laine-Hendolin, Master of Arts (Education), to the post of Director General of the Ministry of Education and Culture for the period from 1 September 2025 to 31 July 2030. The Director General is the head of the Ministry’s Department for Youth and Sport Policy.

16.12.2022 | The Sustainable Growth Programme for Finland is investing in revitalising culture and the creative industries and in reshaping them in a sustainable way. The Ministry of Education and Culture has granted EUR 13 720 000 million in discretionary government grants to those operating in the cultural and creative sectors to create innovative services and to devise novel production and operating procedures.

1.3.2023 | The reform of continuous learning, launched under the Government Programme, has promoted the opportunities of working-age people to improve their knowledge and skills, and increased the availability of skilled labour. The final report on the reform implementation and on the next steps was submitted on 1 March 2023 to the Members of Parliament who participated in the drafting of the parliamentary policy approaches for continuous learning. 

21.12.2021 | The Sustainable Growth Programme for Finland is investing in revitalising culture and the creative industries and in reshaping them in a sustainable way. The Ministry of Education and Culture has granted EUR 4 million in discretionary government grants to those operating in the cultural and creative sectors to create innovative services and to devise novel production and operating procedures. The gr...

17.12.2020 | A group of Members of Parliament have adopted policy approaches for continuous learning that promote the opportunities of working-age people to develop their competence and ensure the availability of skilled labour. Since the reform aims to respond specifically to the competence needs arising from changes in the world of work, education and employment services will be enhanced as a whole.

19.2.2020 | The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) recommends that Finland diversify its adult education provision, make it more relevant for working life, and use economic incentives to encourage reskilling and upskilling. Special attention should be paid to outreach and guidance services to adults with lower basic skills. The Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Econo...

25.9.2019 | A continuous learning reform will focus on the skills of working age people. The reform will respond to the educational needs arising from changes in the world of work and seek solutions to combine work and study. Implementation of the comprehensive reform will continue beyond this government term.

15.2.2023 | The Ministry of Education and Culture published on Wednesday 15 February an Outlook Review of the Officials of the Ministry of Education and Culture on the Next Government Term.  In the future, too, Finland’s success, wellbeing and sustainable growth can only be based on the growth of human and social capital and innovation.

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.

5.9.2023 | Finnish VET in a Nutshell ed uc at io n in f in la nd DU RA TI ON I N Y EA RS EQ F CL AS SI FI CA TI ON IS CE D CL AS SI FI CA TI ON DU RA TI ON O F CO M PU LS OR Y ED U CA TI ON 0– 6 1 9 3 3 2 2 4 6 7 5 8 1 1& 2 3 6 7 8 0 4 Ag e 18 DOCTORAL DEGRE...

5.9.2023 | Finnish VET in a Nutshell ed uc at io n in f in la nd DU RA TI ON I N Y EA RS EQ F CL AS SI FI CA TI ON IS CE D CL AS SI FI CA TI ON DU RA TI ON O F CO M PU LS OR Y ED U CA TI ON 0– 6 1 9 3 3 2 2 4 6 7 5 8 1 1& 2 3 6 7 8 0 4 Ag e 18 DOCTORAL DEGRE...

23.6.2021 | Minister of Science and Culture Antti Kurvinen has allocated nearly three million euros towards developing cultural tourism. This appropriation will contribute to the objective in the Government Programme of Prime Minister Sanna Marin to boost cultural tourism. The objective is linked to promoting the conditions for the creative industries to operate. The appropriation will also support culture ...

10.2.2022 | The working group set up by the Ministry of Education and Culture to monitor and assess the introduction of tuition fees in higher education has completed its work. The working group monitored and evaluated between 2017 and 2021 how the introduction of tuition fees impacted the international dimension and student flows in higher education institutions. It also collected information on tuition fees used by higher education institutions and their grant and scholarship practices.

15.12.2017 | MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND CULTURE - FINLAND 12 October 2017 NATIONAL YOUTH WORK AND YOUTH POLICY PROGRAMME 2017–2019 Contents 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................