General information of Education Division

Finnish education system

  • Compulsory education applies to 6 to 18-year-olds who reside permanently in Finland. It includes pre-primary, primary, lower secondary and upper secondary education, and is free at all levels. Both general and vocational upper secondary certificates provide eligibility for further studies.
  • The Finnish education system has no dead-ends. Learners can always continue their studies on a higher level of education, whatever choices they make in between.

The City of Helsinki Education Division oversees the City’s early childhood education, pre-primary education, basic education, general upper secondary education, Finnish-language vocational education and training, and liberal adult education.

The world’s most equitable and effective place to learn
– Helsinki City Strategy 2021-2025

All Helsinki schools are good schools

  • Every child has the right to a safe childhood and a good education. Quality early childhood education, basic education and other forms of instruction are the foundation upon which a smoothly functioning city and a good life can be built.
  • Specialised education options will be expanded, and we will ensure that every student will get the support they need for attending school, focusing on those most in need with positive discrimination.

Investing in early childhood education

  • We will add more early childhood locations close to residential housing and commuter routes in order to fulfil the principle of a local daycare centre near every home.
  • Helsinki will raise the early childhood education attendance rate even higher, especially among children from other language communities.
  • We will also ensure that the share of qualified staff in day-care centres increases and that work conditions and the use of substitutes are improved.

A smooth path to all levels of education

  • Helsinki will duly implement the recent nationwide reform that extends compulsory education to the age of 18.
  • We will work to ensure that each of the capital’s young inhabitants will have a diverse range of study options available to them, in addition to more opportunities to pursue apprenticeship training.
  • Opportunities to study in English will be expanded at all education levels.

We are strengthening everyone’s trust in the future.