Studying in Basic Education

Compulsory Education

All children and young people permanently living in Finland are subject to compulsory education. Compulsory education begins when a child turns seven and ends when the young person turns 18 or when they complete a secondary education qualification before that. The exception is the extended compulsory education of a disabled or ill child, which can begin at the age of 6 with pre-school education, i.e. one year earlier than prescribed.

With the expansion of compulsory education from 2021, every ninth-grader who finishes comprehensive school is obliged to apply for and continue in upper secondary education, joint-stage education or other education falling within the scope of compulsory education.

Curriculum

The implementation of basic education is guided by legislation, national curriculum criteria and the City of Rauma’s own curriculum criteria. The school also has its own curriculum, in which, among other things, the school-specific emphases of teaching are decided.

Working Days and School Holidays

The municipality decides on the working days and holidays in early childhood and basic education within the limits set by the law.

There are 190 working days in the basic education school year. Independence Day (6.12.), Epiphany (6.1.), and May Day (1.5.) are deducted from the working days if they fall on a weekday other than a Saturday. The school year always ends on the last working day of the 22nd week, which is a Saturday.