Rautavaara plans 5,000-euro bonus to attract high school students

Rautavaara municipality is planning to pay every student who graduates from its upper secondary school 5,000 euros, Yle reported. The proposed scholarship is intended to attract students as the number of young people declines and competition for upper secondary students increases.

The idea has received mostly positive reactions in Rautavaara, although some residents have questioned how the municipality would fund it.

Viola Huttunen, who attends Rautavaara Upper Secondary School, moved to the municipality from Sonkajärvi last year. She lives in municipal student housing and pays 25 euros a month for water and electricity.

Jorma Korkalainen said it was important for the municipality to have its own upper secondary school, but considered a scholarship worth thousands of euros too large an incentive.

“Where will the money come from?” he asked.

School transport driver Tom Lindefors supports the proposal because his routes also carry upper secondary students.

“We need upper secondary students here. It is important to us that the school remains here,” he said.

Tarja Rossi said young people should also receive some kind of instruction in everyday behaviour and basic tasks.

First scholarships could be awarded in 2029

Under the proposal, students would have to complete all their studies at Rautavaara Upper Secondary School and graduate there to qualify for the scholarship.

Marjo Jalkala, the acting principal and director of education, believes the scholarship could strengthen the appeal of both the municipality and the school, and thereby support the municipality’s vitality.

“We want to believe that education has strength and appeal. We want to offer upper secondary education in the future as well, when student numbers decline,” Jalkala said.

If the proposal is approved, the first scholarship recipients would graduate in spring 2029.

Proposal would initially cost 60,000 euros

Twelve new students started at Rautavaara Upper Secondary School this autumn. Rewarding them would cost the municipality 60,000 euros. The scholarship would not be paid retroactively to students who began their studies earlier.

The municipality’s education committee will consider the proposal on September 2. The final decision will be made by Rautavaara municipal council.

The school currently has 43 students and offers the option of studying medicine.

According to a study by the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities, the number of upper secondary students is expected to collapse during the next decade, leading to the closure of several schools.

Small upper secondary schools are using various incentives to attract students, including scholarships worth 1,000 euros, study trips, inexpensive or free housing and free driving licences.