Service vouchers enhance private sector role in early childhood education in Finland

The introduction of service vouchers has significantly enhanced the role of the private sector in early childhood education, according to a recent study. Since 2009, municipalities have been able to provide families with vouchers for early childhood services, which combine elements from both the public and private sectors.

Research conducted by the University of Jyväskylä alongside Kela, Finland’s social insurance institution, reveals that the majority of early childhood education services are still offered publicly. In 2019, almost 75% of Finnish daycare centers were publicly managed. Furthermore, nearly half of the municipalities lacked any private early childhood services altogether.

The findings released on Tuesday indicate that the impact of service vouchers varies among different types of municipalities. In some areas, private services account for approximately 40% of early childhood education offerings. This discrepancy highlights a diverse landscape in the implementation of such services across the country.