Kouvola plans to close six schools by 2032

Kouvola has proposed closing six schools as the number of children in the Finnish city declines, Yle reported. Parents have reacted with dismay and raised concerns about longer journeys to school.

“We knew this was coming, but it is still quite devastating,” said Sari Metsälä, a board member of the Elimäki parents’ association.

The proposed changes include closing the lower-secondary school at Elimäki Comprehensive School in 2032. Metsälä said lower-secondary school was a sensitive period for young people and suggested that teaching could be organised in alternative ways, such as in primary-school facilities, to reduce the burden of long journeys.

“I hope there is still room for changes,” she said.

Kouvola has held public meetings on the school plans, with the final meeting scheduled for 25 August at Kouvola City Hall. Metsälä hopes residents’ alternative proposals will be genuinely considered before decisions are made.

City says fewer pupils require a smaller network

The city currently provides basic education in 25 school properties. According to forecasts, the number of pupils will fall by 2,200 by 2035 compared with today.

The number of children born in Kouvola fell from 767 in 2013 to 426 in 2025. Children born in 2025 will start school in 2032.

Veikko Niemi, Kouvola’s director of education, said reducing the number of schools was necessary. He said maintaining the current number of school buildings was also a cost factor and that the school network needed to match the declining number of pupils.

Niemi said a network of 15 schools would be suitable for Kouvola and should remain viable for a long time. He did not expect major further needs to close schools after that.

Planned changes

The proposed changes are scheduled to take place in stages:

In 2028, the Niinistö facility of Jokela-Niinistö Primary School would close. It currently has about 120 pupils. The flexible basic education classes at Aapiskuja at Eskolanmäki Comprehensive School would move to other facilities, and Svenska skolan in Kuusankoski would close. The school currently has 13 pupils.

In 2030, the lower-secondary section of Myllykoski Comprehensive School would close. It currently has about 200 pupils.

In 2032, the lower-secondary section of Elimäki Comprehensive School would close. It currently has about 200 pupils.

Permanent staff would retain their employment, although their schools could change. The number of employees would decrease through retirements and the end of fixed-term contracts.

Decisions expected by the end of the year

The education and teaching board will consider the service network proposal in September. The city council is due to decide on the schools by the end of the year.

Elimäki Comprehensive School principal Mikko Rajasaari said some current lower-secondary pupils had asked whether they would be able to complete their education at the same school.

“There is no greater concern. The pupils are living in the present,” he said.