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Education is one of the cornerstones of the Finnish welfare society. We pride ourselves on an educational system that offers equal opportunities for education for all.

The recommendations for artificial intelligence, AI, support competence related to AI in education, teaching and training. Strengthening competence promotes increasing understanding of AI, its safe use and equal opportunities for education and training actors to utilise emerging technologies in learning.

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 ...

Creative expertise Education in the fields of arts and culture form the foundation for creative expertise. Education is provided in the different levels of education. Furthermore, competence development in many different forms is organised, for ex...

4.3.2026 | The 2026 Finnish State Award for Foreign Translators has been presented to the distinguished Danish translator Siri Nordborg Møller (b. 1981), whose work has greatly broadened the international visibility of Finnish literature. The EUR 15,000 award has been granted annually since 1975 by the Ministry of Education and Culture based on a proposal from FILI – Finnish Literature Exchange.

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.

14.10.2025 | Developments in higher education systems in Finland’s peer countries Korkeakoulutuksen ja tutkimuksen 2040 visioseminaari Simon Roy 10 October 2025 Head of Higher Education Policy, OECD Directorate for Education and Skills Adults' mean literacy pr...

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.

15.10.2020 | On Thursday, the Government submitted a proposal to Parliament that would extend compulsory education until the age of 18. At the same time, upper secondary education would be made free of charge for students in extended compulsory education. The reform would also improve student guidance and develop transition phase education. The goal is for the reform to enter into force on 1 August 2021. Yo...

22.12.2021 | The Ministry of Education and Culture and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare have updated two recommendations related to the prevention of the COVID-19 epidemic. One of the recommendations applies to providers of early childhood education and care and school education, and the second to providers of general upper secondary education and vocational education and training, liberal adult education, basic education for adults, universities of applied sciences and universities.

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.

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...

27.2.2024 | This year, the recipient of the Finnish State Award for Foreign Translators is Maima Grīnberga (b. 1969), who has been translating Finnish literature into Latvian with distinction. The prize, which has been awarded since 1975, is worth EUR 15,000. The Ministry of Education and Culture awards the prize annually based on a proposal by the Finnish Literature Exchange (FILI).

24.4.2017 | Vocational education and training (VET) will undergo a comprehensive reform. The Government submitted a proposal for a new act on vocational education and training to the Parliament on 24 April.

5.8.2021 | The Ministry of Education and Culture and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) have updated their recommendations on how to organise early childhood education and care, primary and lower secondary education, upper secondary education and higher education. The autumn term will start with the same health security practices as before: good hygiene and ventilation will be ensured; unnecess...

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.

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.

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.

28.2.2023 | This year, the recipient of the Finnish State Award for Foreign Translators is Claire Saint-Germain, who has successfully translated Finnish literature into French. The prize, which has been awarded since 1975, is worth EUR 15,000. The Ministry of Education and Culture awards the prize annually based on a proposal by the Finnish Literature Exchange (FILI).