Video: Should Finland ban homeschooling?
Authorities are concerned about the effect homeschooling can have on a child's educational development as well as their sense of societal belonging.
Homeschooling in Finland has become a contentious issue, with the practice's numbers more than tripling in seven years, currently accounting for 945 children out of the total school population. Parents choose this route for a variety of reasons, ranging from avoiding bullies to ensuring their neurodivergent children receive tailored education. However, concerns have arisen regarding the welfare of homeschooled children, particularly when value-based reasons like religious beliefs or extremist ideologies drive the decision.
Experts argue that many parents' motivations are rooted in value-based factors, such as religious beliefs or extremist ideologies. Monitoring teachers have also raised worries about the educational quality of homeschooled children relative to the national curriculum and the potential impact on social skills and sense of belonging.
Finland's current stance on homeschooling is quite unique, as there is no law mandating school attendance. Parents can simply inform the local municipality to enroll their children in homeschooling programs. While officials monitor these children's progress, they have limited authority to intervene if a child fails basic tests.
The lack of robust oversight has led to calls for stricter regulations. The Finnish Security and Intelligence Service, for instance, has warned of the risks homeschooled children may face, such as marginalization or radicalization. Education Minister Anders Adlercreutz has also suggested that authorities should be granted greater power to suspend homeschooling, particularly when children's compulsory education requirements are not being met.
Written by urgent.news from Yle News Finland's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
