Only one student applies to Ilomantsi upper secondary school amid rural decline

Only a single student applied to Ilomantsi upper secondary school in this spring’s joint application round, public broadcaster Yle reports, highlighting the growing crisis facing small rural schools in Finland.

The Finnish Upper Secondary School Students’ Union has warned of an uncontrolled wave of school closures and is demanding national intervention to secure access to education. In Ilomantsi, a municipality near Finland’s eastern border, the school’s future remains uncertain—current enrollment stands at just 20 students, with numbers expected to drop to 15 next autumn.

“Will there even be any young people left here?”
First-year student Kiira Jeskanen told Yle the prospect of the school closing was devastating. “It’s really sad that the whole upper secondary school might disappear. Will there even be any young people left in Ilomantsi?”

Last autumn, only five students began their studies at the school. The sole applicant for next year will not have their own class or form teacher, with teaching instead tailored through remote courses and combined classes with older students.

“The idea is that they can start here—and hopefully continue if we get more students next year,” said principal Päivi Neuvonen.

Aging population and youth migration drive decline
The student shortage stems from demographic shifts: over 60% of Ilomantsi’s residents are of retirement age. Most local youth opt for vocational training, with only a third pursuing upper secondary education—many now traveling to the nearby city of Joensuu instead.

The situation has worsened after the government introduced tuition fees for students from outside the EU and ETA, reducing the pool of international applicants that some small schools previously relied on.

Calls for national planning to prevent closures
Pietari Meriläinen, chair of the Finnish Upper Secondary School Students’ Union, warned that unchecked closures could undermine the legal right to education. The union is urging the state to develop a national contingency plan.

Jukka O. Mattila, chair of the Association of Finnish Local Upper Secondary Schools, struck a more optimistic note, arguing that small schools remain a priority for municipalities. Only three upper secondary schools have closed permanently in the past five years, with fewer than 50 currently operating with fewer than 60 students.

Specialization seen as potential lifeline
Ilomantsi is exploring niche programs—such as Karelian language and culture, tourism tied to local war history sites, or even mining—to attract students from beyond the municipality. A working group is assessing options, including partnerships with neighboring regions.

“The next two years will be critical,” Mattila said, citing the impact of tuition fees on international recruitment. Regional cooperation, targeted marketing, and specialization are seen as key to survival, though challenges remain.