Finnish Student Union satisfied with decision to maintain free upper secondary education

The Finnish Student Union has expressed its satisfaction regarding the decision that upper secondary and vocational education will remain free for students. A recent agreement made during the spring framework session determined that free learning materials and the matriculation exams would be provided only until the end of the calendar year in which a student turns 18, rather than the current cutoff at 20.

In the Ministry of Finance’s budget proposal, the funding cuts to free learning materials will be compensated through reductions in financial support for upper secondary education projects and professional education strategic funding. Specifically, four million euros will be cut from strategic funding and two million from project funding, which corresponds to the savings outlined in the framework agreement.

According to Anita Lehikoinen, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Culture, this issue essentially relates to funding for education development. She noted that strategic funding has been used for various purposes in vocational education, likely aimed at general operational development and new initiatives.

The Finnish Student Union recognizes that these compensatory cuts are painful but significantly less damaging to educational accessibility and youth wellbeing. The union emphasized the importance of free upper secondary education, especially for youth facing challenges related to income, learning, or health. The union’s president, August Kiattrakoolchai, noted that the threat of ending free upper secondary education has cast a shadow over many students at the start of the academic year.

In April, the Finnish Student Union organized a nationwide march in protest against government cuts. Former Education Minister Anna-Maja Henriksson stated in July that learning materials for upper secondary education would remain free. The Ministry of Education and Culture is expected to implement 65 million euros in government grant savings for the coming year, with decisions on 50 million euros to be made during the government budget session in early September.