Comprehensive School
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.
The objective of basic education is to support pupils’ growth towards humanity and an 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.
Finnish pupils attend comprehensive school for 9 years, between ages 7 and 16. Textbooks and other materials are free of charge, and pupils are offered a free daily meal. In addition, school health care and other welfare services are free of charge.
Image: City of Turku, Jaska Poikonen
Image: City of Turku, Lauri Tiikasalo
