Finnish National Agency for Education initiates cooperation negotiations to reduce costs by 2.5 million euros

The Finnish National Agency for Education has announced the initiation of cooperation negotiations aimed at achieving savings of 2.5 million euros by the end of 2026. This plan reflects a reduction of approximately ten percent in operational costs. The negotiations will affect the entire staff, with a preliminary estimate indicating a need to reduce the workforce by up to 35 employees from a total of about 420.

According to the agency’s announcement, its budget has been insufficient for several years, and funding is expected to diminish further during 2025-2027 due to new government cuts and a decrease in the operational budget allocated to the agency. Consequently, there is a need to reorganize the agency’s operations and responsibilities.

The Finnish National Agency for Education, operating under the Ministry of Education and Culture, is responsible for various critical functions, including the development of education and training, the student selection service Opintopolku, and providing expert knowledge on education.

It is important to note that the cooperation negotiations will not include the Matriculation Examination Board, the Finnish Education Evaluation Centre, or the Centre for Continuous Learning and Employment, which operate alongside the agency. Additionally, six state educational institutions are also excluded from these discussions.