School Schedule in Finland

In Finland, basic education lasts for 9 years from elementary to secondary school. It includes grades from 1-9. Elementary education is from the first to the sixth grade and secondary education starts from the seventh grade. Kids from 6 years old, starts primary education a year before basic education, which is either attended in the school or daycare premises.

All children under the age of 18 years old, who resides in Finland permanently must attend compulsory education, which includes pre-primary, basic, secondary education, high school or vocational school.

The school schedule 2025-2026

Finland among most countries used The Gregorian calendar, which is the world's most widely used civil calendar. The school schedules were translated to English from the Finnish National Agency for Education- Opetushallitus. The programs include the dates of the schools working days and holidays in mainland Finland. The Finnish dates are written (1.5), which means May 1, similar to British English. Schools start in Finland in August. The Autumn holiday (syysloma) usually begins in October, the Christmas holiday ( joululoma) starts in the third week of December, and the Winter holiday (talviloma) starts in February. School ends on the last week of May or the first week of June.

General Schools Holiday Schedule in Finland 2025-2026

Holidays

Companies often show flexibility towards parents with young children by granting them holidays during these times. Some working parents may find it challenging to secure babysitters during these holidays; nevertheless, schools, daycare centers, sports clubs, and other organizations arrange after-school clubs (iltapäiväkerho). Having a detailed schedule in advance makes it easier to plan activities during these holidays.

In Finland, children are taught to be independent from an early age. There is no law specifying when children can be left alone at home. However, it is generally not advisable to leave kids alone for the entire day. Parents typically leave their children for 2-4 hours after school.

Short school days

First to sixth graders usually have a short period of about 21-25 hours per week. In comparison, 7-9 graders have an average of 30 hours per week. However, schools can decide if they want to have longer school hours.

There are traditionally afternoon clubs (iltapäiväkerho) for 1st-3rd graders on the school premises or organized by the Lutheran church or other associations. Some schools and local associations offer 1-2 hour clubs for kids who do not want to go to the afternoon clubs.

School lunch is free

Schools in Finland provide nutritious lunches, though Finnish cuisine might be unfamiliar to foreign children. The buffet includes options such as vegetables, salad, potatoes, rice or pasta, meat, fish, or a vegetarian dish. Children can select either skimmed milk or water to drink. School meal planning takes into account allergies, ethical considerations, and religious dietary requirements. Snacks aren't needed unless students have a longer school day or are on a class trip. Additionally, the school lunch setting serves as a learning environment where children can gain insights into well-being, nutritional health, and Finnish food culture.

School equipments

In Finland, schoolchildren receive essential supplies like pencils, sharpeners, and erasers at school. However, they need to purchase items such as backpacks and pencil cases. Additionally, students participate in sports activities at school, which are beneficial to learn, including swimming, skating, and skiing. Parents are encouraged to support their children's involvement in these activities, as they are a required part of the curriculum throughout the basic school years.

Parents Association and fundraising

The best way to get acquainted with new parents is through parents' associations. These groups raise funds to benefit all students in local schools by purchasing playground equipment, financing school trips, and providing scholarships. Parents support school activities by organizing various fundraising events.

In Finland, it's common for 6th graders to go on a 2-4 day class trip to a campsite for the entire class to enjoy. Fundraising for such trips is expensive, prompting most parents to start raising funds from the first grade. They might sell products and food, organize events and fairs to reach the financial goal for the class trip. This type of fundraising also helps in getting to know the neighbors in the area.