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Local authority cultural activity Local authorities (municipalities) are responsible for organising cultural activities that support local cultural life and those involved in it. It is the local authority that decides on the content of public cult...

Local youth work Youth work and youth policy fall within the remit of municipalities and are implemented in multiprofessional cooperation. The local authorities may also work together and provide youth services regionally. The Ministry of Educatio...

Financing of general education The state and the local education providers share the financial cost for tuition. Pre-primary education, primary and lower secondary education (basic education) and upper secondary education are all free of charge. I...

Financing of libraries Municipalities are responsible for organising the public library services. Public library services are financed by the municipalities and the state together. The state finances library services by allocating central governme...

Financing of sport The task of sports administration and services is to promote sports and physical activity. The Ministry of Education and Culture is responsible for the general direction, coordination and development of sports policy and for ens...

Legislation on early childhood education and care Early childhood education and care is part of the education and training services, and therefore it falls within the mandate of the Ministry of Education and Culture. Act on Early Childhood Educati...

Comprehensive school Comprehensive schools provide general basic education from year 1 to year 9. Some folk high schools, upper secondary schools for adults and other educational institutions also offer general basic education. Under the Basic Edu...

Performing arts in Finland The Ministry of Education and Culture is responsible for developing the Finnish performing arts sector, drafting the legislati on concerning it, and managing budget appropriations to theatre, dance, circus, and performan...

Key legislation on general education This page lists the key acts and decrees on general education. If an English translation of an act or decree is available, the link takes you directly to the English version of the statute in the Finlex databas...

Basic education in the arts Basic education in the arts is provided primarily for children and young people on an extracurricular basis. Basic arts education is provided at music institutes and schools, art schools, dance institutes and schools, h...

Youth work Through youth work and youth policy, the central government and the municipalities work to improve young people’s living conditions and encourage the young to engage in civic activities. The Ministry of Education and Culture prepares is...

Pre-primary education Pre-primary education refers to planned education and care provided the year preceding the start of compulsory education, which is directly related to early childhood education and care as well as primary education. The Minis...

Basic education Basic education provides a general education and general knowledge and is typically given in comprehensive schools. A pupil is not awarded a degree when graduating from comprehensive school, but it does provide them with the qualif...

Culture Finland’s cultural policy comprises the different sectors of arts and culture, museums, cultural heritage, libraries, cultural exports and creative work. Arts and culture are supported by both central and local government. The Ministry of ...

Museums and cultural heritage In central government, it is the Ministry of Education and Culture's task to oversee cultural heritage policy and legislation. The Ministry provides direction to the museum sector through funding and performance guida...

Libraries The Finnish system of municipal libraries is of high quality by international standards. Library services are among the most frequently used municipal services. Libraries are used not only for obtaining information and borrowing material...

Morning and afternoon activities Morning and afternoon activities are activities held outside the scope of lessons before and after school, and are intended for year 1 and 2 pupils as well as pupils with special needs. Local authorities in municip...

General education General education comprises pre-primary, primary, lower secondary, general upper secondary education and other non-vocational studies, such as those at liberal adult education institutions. It also includes morning and afternoon ...

Key changes in the Ministry of Education and Culture's administrative branch in the government term Ministry of Education and Culture Publication date 27.1.2023 10.00 | Published in English on 30.1.2023 at 17.04 The term of Prime Minister Sanna Ma...

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 ...