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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.

Preparing the Programme to Develop Quality and Equality in Vocational Education and Training This programme to develop equality and quality in vocational education and training will help ensure that all students in vocational education and trainin...

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 ...

Completed projects and programmes Extension of compulsory education The minimum school leaving age will be raised to 18 years. Extension of compulsory education Preparing the Programme to Develop Quality and Equality in Vocational Education and Tr...

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.

Science Agenciens, Research Institutes and Scientific Organisations in Finland Science agencies and research institutes under the steering of the Ministry of Education and Culture The Research Council of Finland The National Archives of Finland St...

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...

9.10.2025 | Students from non-EU countries will in future be required to pay tuition fees in both general upper secondary education and vocational education and training. These students will therefore no longer be included in the system of central government transfers to local government. At the same time, providers of vocational education and training will be permitted to sell commissioned education leading to a qualification also to citizens of EU Member States and EEA countries.

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.

30.9.2025 | MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND CULTURE P.O.Box 29, 00023 Government, Finland okm.fi/en Tel. +358 295 16001 OPETUS- JA KULTTUURIMINISTERIÖ PL 29, 00023 Valtioneuvosto okm.fi p. 0295 16001 Ministry of Education and Culture Privacy Notice to Data Subjects...

7.10.2025 | Finnish teachers in lower secondary education enjoy their work, but they are experiencing more stress than before. In Finland, the share of teachers considering a career change has increased, although it remains similar to the OECD average. Trust among colleagues is strong, and collaboration between teachers has grown.

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.

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.

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.

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...

9.6.2020 | The Ministry of Education and Culture is launching a three-year programme for assessing the quality and equality of vocational education and training. Over EUR 270 million has been allocated for 2020–2022 for improving learning opportunities and outcomes, increasing wellbeing and a sense of community, supporting education providers to reform their procedures and practices, and strengthening the capacity of education providers to respond to changes in their operating environment.

18.6.2020 | The Ministry of Education and Culture is launching an extensive programme for guidance counselling to support guidance counselling in primary education, lower secondary education, general upper secondary education and vocational education and training. The programme is part of the extension of compulsory education. Approximately EUR 19 million per year will be allocated from 2021 onwards to support guidance counselling.

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...

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.

19.10.2023 | The Government has appointed Sirkku Linna as Director General at the Ministry of Education and Culture for a fixed-term public-service relationship between 1 December 2023 and 30 November 2028. She will head the Department for Higher Education and Science Policy at the Ministry.