Compulsory education starts in the year when a child has his/her seventh birthday, unless the child needs special needs education. The scope of the basic education syllabus is nine years, and nearly all children subject to compulsory education complete this by attending comprehensive school.

Basic education is free of charge for pupils. Textbooks and other materials, tools etc. are free of charge and pupils are offered a free daily meal. In addition, school health care and other welfare services are free to the pupils. Pupils in basic education living some distance from school (more than 5 km) or the journey is considered dangerous are entitled to free transport. If the daily travel time exceeds three hours, the pupil is entitled to free board and lodging in a dormitory.

The objective of basic education is to support pupils’ growth towards humanity and ethically responsible membership of society and to provide them with the knowledge and skills needed in life. The education should promote learning and equality in society as well as acquiring knowledge and skills that the students need in studying and developing themselves later in life. Education also aims at guaranteeing sufficient equality in education throughout the country.

Post-basic education

After completing basic education, a young person can continue studying or enter working life. It is not considered advisable to move into working life immediately, but one of the objectives of education policy is to provide the whole of each age group with upper secondary education free of charge. If education is continued, a choice is usually made between general upper secondary school and vocational education and training.

Additional voluntary education (10th grade)

In case basic education completers feel that their skills are not quite up to the standard required by further education, they can supplement their knowledge and improve on the school-leaving certificate marks by enrolling in additional voluntary education in the so-called 10th grade.

More information

> Read more about basic education for adults.
> Read more about school meals in Finland (pdf)
> National core curriculum for basic education