High school students in Finland receive easier access to social assistance compared to vocational students

High school students facing financial difficulties can more easily receive basic social assistance compared to vocational students. The Finnish social insurance institution, Kela, has quietly communicated this shift to its staff in an internal benefits guideline. Basic social assistance is applied for when other social benefits do not cover essential living costs.

For students over 18, the norm is to apply for a student loan before becoming eligible for social assistance; this includes vocational students. However, high school students in the same financial predicament are exceptions, as they can receive assistance without first applying for a student loan. This discretionary differentiation falls under the caseworker’s judgment.

Approximately 5,700 individuals, or about 9% of adult secondary school students, receive both student support and social assistance each month. Kela’s guidelines indicate that high school education does not provide the required vocational qualifications to ensure income security. This update is based on a 2013 Ministry of Social Affairs and Health guide and a ruling from Finland’s Supreme Administrative Court in 2007.

Critics argue that the situation for secondary students has significantly changed since then, especially with the current law mandating schooling until the age of 18. They question the fairness of the current system where high school students are not obligated to take out loans, while vocational students are.

Representatives from educational advocacy groups express concern that all secondary students needing assistance should be able to do so without additional loan obligations. High school student leaders welcome Kela’s revised guidelines, emphasizing the unsuitability of a loan system for young students transitioning to independence.