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Finland and PISA PISA assesses the learning outcome of students aged 15 in mathematics, science and reading literacy. PISA produces information about education, learning outcomes and informal learning The Programme for International Student Assess...

Education for immigrants Immigrants usually participate in the same early childhood education and care, education and training as the rest of the population. In addition to these, integration training and support for learning as well as preparator...

Foresight and evaluation activities Pre-primary education and comprehensive school education are evaluated using different theme and system evaluations. Comprehensive school education is also evaluated on the basis of learning outcomes. The aim is...

Frequently asked questions Here you can find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions. If you couldn’t find the answer to your question on our website, you are also welcome to contact us kas.okm(at)gov.fi How are you developing Finni...

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its effects in the administrative branch of the Ministry of Education and Culture On this page, we will update information on the impacts of the situation in the administrative branch of the Ministry of Education a...

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 ...

Qualifications and studies in vocational education and training The qualifications structure in vocational education and training (VET) has three levels. There are three types of qualifications: vocational upper secondary qualification, further vo...

General upper secondary education General upper secondary education and the matriculation examination taken at the end of it make it possible to apply for studies in higher education institutions. The unit of the scope of studies is a credit. The ...

Cuts being made to studies in Finnish language and culture abroad have lately been a topic in public debate. The Ministry of Education and Culture has also received communications and petitions related to the issue. Here, we provide an overview of the background to the approaches adopted and respond to the concerns expressed by the public.

18.6.2024 | The results of the OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2022 Creative Thinking assessment were published on 18 June 2024. The assessment measured how 15-year-olds in the participating countries were able to generate solutions for problems in everyday contexts. In Finland, young people demonstrated a high level of creative thinking, girls being among the best performers. Minis...

30.9.2024 | The PISA 2022 results show that there are still major disparities in performance between immigrant and non-immigrant students in all domains of assessment. Underperformance of students with an immigrant background is often explained by weak reading performance and lower socio-economic status.

20.5.2025 | The Finnish Science Award 2025 has been awarded to Johanna Ivaska, Professor of Molecular Cell Biology at the University of Turku. The multidisciplinary research group led by her focuses on research into the movement and spread of cancer cells. Ivaska’s research increases understanding of both the behaviour of cancer cells and the importance of healthy tissue in cancer treatment. The research can be used to develop new treatments to prevent the spread of cancer.

5.12.2023 | Findings of the OECD’s PISA 2022 (Programme for International Student Assessment) show that the learning outcomes of young people in Finland have deteriorated. Anna-Maja Henriksson, the Finnish Minister of Education, says restructuring of educational policies and resources for implementing the changes will be needed to improve learning outcomes.

5.12.2023 | Findings of the OECD’s PISA 2022 (Programme for International Student Assessment) show that while the performance of Finnish young people has deteriorated, it remains above the OECD average. PISA 2022 focused on mathematical literacy.

7.1.2026 | 1 Procedural recommendations for developing Finland’s national language reserve 2 Foreword We need an accurate picture of the national language reserve Fewer languages are being studied in school Developing school practices Early childhood educati...

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.

15.6.2021 | The objective of the higher education accessibility plan preparation has been entered in the Government Programme. According to the Government’s education policy report, the Government will decide on the goals and guidelines on measures to improve equality in the higher education accessibility plan by the end of 2021. Senior Specialist Tapio Kosunen, who acted as the rapporteur, handed over his presentation to Minister of Science and Culture Antti Kurvinen on Tuesday, 15 June.

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...

7.5.2020 | The results of the PISA 2018 financial literacy assessments were published in 20 countries on 7 May 2020. With their average score of 537 points for the financial literacy assessment, Finnish young people were the second best together with Canada (532 points). The most financially literate youth were found in Estonia, where the average of 547 points was statistically significantly higher than the average of all other countries.

22.8.2023 | The Ministry of Education and Culture has appointed a working group to prepare an increase in tuition fees for non-EU and non-EEA university students. The working group is also expected to propose legislation to prevent the circumvention of tuition fees and to re-introduce university application processing fees.

3.12.2019 | The focus in the OECD’s PISA 2018 (Programme for International Student Assessment) was on reading literacy. The survey, held every three years, again ranked Finnish 15-year-olds among top performers in reading literacy in OECD countries. Compared with 2015, Finnish students’ mathematical literacy also remained unchanged, but performance in science literacy declined.

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...

3.12.2019 | OECD PISA 2018 results were published on Tuesday 3 December. Minister of Education Li Andersson commented on the results at the publication event.

3.2.2021 | The Digivision 2030, a joint project between Finnish universities and universities of applied sciences, will bring greater opportunities for all learners to learn flexibly. The aim is to restructure Finland’s higher education over the next decade by means of digitalisation and to make Finland a model country for flexible learning.

21.11.2017 | Young people in Finland ranked in fifth place among the OECD countries that took part in the OECD’s PISA 2015 assessment on collaborative problem solving and in seventh place among all the countries and economies that participated in the assessment. This is the first time that collaborative problem-solving skills were assessed.

15.4.2021 | The EUROSTUDENT VII study examined the living conditions, studies, social background and livelihoods of students in higher education. Over 7,000 students in higher education responded to the survey carried out in spring 2019. Finland's national results were published in September 2020. The five research papers now published support the national report and give it thematic depth.

9.11.2022 | Equality and diversity in the Norwegian higher education institutes Case study for KOTAMO-project 2021/11 Virhe. Määritä Aloitus-välilehdessä Rubrik, jota haluat käyttää tähän kirjoitettavaan tekstiin. Client The Finnish Ministry of Education and ...

6.12.2016 | The focus in the OECD’s PISA 2015 Programme for International Student Assessment was on scientific literacy. In the triennial survey, Finnish 15-year-olds ranked in third place among the OECD countries in scientific literacy. Finnish students were still among the best in reading literacy, and mathematical literacy has remained unchanged. There is a lack of enthusiasm for science, however, and this is reflected in a drop in score points.

1.3.2021 | The Constitution safeguards the autonomy of universities and the Universities Act secures the general administrative framework in universities. The working group that carried out the assessment of administrative autonomy in Finnish universities deemed it unnecessary for legislation at the level of an act of Parliament to be more specific than it currently is. The working group considers that many...

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.

21.1.2022 | 14.12.2021 Updated National Roadmap for Research, Development and Innovation INTRODUCTION RDI roadmap and its objectives The National Roadmap for Research, Development and Innovation, adopted by the Government in spring 2020, consists of a set of ...

9.11.2022 | Equality and diversity in the Irish higher education institutes Case study for KOTAMO-project 2021/11 Virhe. Määritä Aloitus-välilehdessä Rubrik, jota haluat käyttää tähän kirjoitettavaan tekstiin. Client The Finnish Ministry of Education and Cult...

1.4.2019 | 1 EUROPEAN COMMISSION DIRECTORATE-GENERAL FOR EDUCATION AND CULTURE Culture and creativity European Capitals of Culture (ECoC) 2020-2033 Guidelines for the cities' own evaluations of the results of their ECOC 1. Background and context Independent ...

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

12.10.2017 | In its resolution of 12 October, the Government outlined measures to be taken to promote young people’s growth and living conditions during the remainder of the government term. The National Youth Work and Youth Policy Programme is a cross-sectoral programme drawn up under the new Youth Act. The programme will be adopted as a government resolution every four years. As the Youth Act was amended during the current government term, the first programme now adopted covers only the period 2017–2019.

3.8.2018 | Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development EDU/WKP(2017)9 Unclassified English - Or. English 17 November 2017 DIRECTORATE FOR EDUCATION AND SKILLS COLLABORATION, ALLIANCE, AND MERGER AMONG HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS OECD Education W...

7.2.2017 | Opetusministeriö Ministry for Education PISA 2006 – First results Finnish students aged 15 have the best science knowledge and skills in the world. The mean performance in Finland is significantly better than in any other country participating in ...

22.5.2020 | 1 23 April 2020 Solutions for a sustainable and developing society Objectives and targets of the National Roadmap for Research, Development and Innovation: A new beginning for RDI cooperation between companies and research organisations Finland’s ...

7.2.2017 | First results of OECD Pisa 2006 4.12.2007 2 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) • An OECD programme that produces information about the state of education in an international frame of reference. • Measures how 15-year-old student...

17.9.2019 | The Government will invest in knowledge and education with a financing package of approximately EUR 350 million for all levels of education. This investment will raise the level of skills and competence in Finland, make education more equitable and improve its quality, and enhance the wellbeing of children and young people. The Government agreed on the content of the budget proposal for 2020 in a budget session on Tuesday 17 September.

14.2.2017 | The Minister of Education and Culture Sanni Grahn-Laasonen has launched vision work with the aim of defining objectives for the Finnish higher education and research until the year 2030. The vision will be drawn up in broad cooperation with higher education institutions and other stakeholders. A parliamentary monitoring group will be established to support the work. The vision will be completed by September 2017.

27.2.2019 | As the first ever Nordic country, Finland will host the International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) on 14 and 15 March 2019. ISTP brings together countries with the best performing or rapidly improving education systems as measured by the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).

26.1.2017 | />^, ^-o5 ^, ^l^öo/^ffVS PROGRAMME ON CULTURAL EXCHANGES BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FINLAND AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF CHINA FOR THE PERIOD 2005 -2009 The Government of the Republic of Finland and the Government o...

9.11.2022 | Equality and diversity in the Swedish higher education institutes Case study for KOTAMO-project 2021/11 Virhe. Määritä Aloitus-välilehdessä Rubrik, jota haluat käyttää tähän kirjoitettavaan tekstiin. Client The Finnish Ministry of Education and Cu...

2.12.2013 | Average mathematical literacy among Finnish school students ranked in twelfth place among the 65 participating countries in the PISA 2012 assessment. In 2003, when mathematics was previously the focus of study, Finland came in second place. The national average score in mathematics has decreased significantly since the 2003 assessment. Reading and science literacy have also deteriorated markedly.

9.2.2017 | Fostering Our Common Heritage Implementation Plan for the National World Heritage Strategy until 2025 Publications of the Ministry of Education and Culture, Finland 2016:44 Opetus- ja kulttuuriministeriö Ministry of Education and Culture Fostering...

8.9.2014 | The OECD published its annual indicators on education (Education at a Glance). It compares different OECD countries and partner countries in the light of educational levels, employment by educational attainment, the financial cost of education, enrolment in education and indicators relating to teachers. The publication also analyses the results of international assessments, such as the student performance survey (PISA survey) and the study of adult competencies (PIAAC).

5.11.2013 | Education and Training Monitor: Key indicators and benchmarks

27.9.2012 | Proudly presents: Educational Support and Guidance

7.12.2010 | Young Finns were again among the best performers in the assessment of reading, mathematical and scientific literacy in PISA 2009.

6.11.2006 | Minister of Education and Science Antti KalliomäkiLifelong Guidance Policies and Systems: Building the Stepping Stones Jyväskylän Paviljonki November 6 2006