Students face educational inequalities in Finland as lawmakers push for support reform

Not all students have access to basic education in Finland due to a lack of support, which varies between municipalities and even between schools within the same municipality. Lawmakers are acknowledging the inequalities within the support system and are moving towards reforming it with a legislative package currently under consideration in parliament. The goal of the reform is to standardize support offerings, reduce bureaucracy, and enhance schools’ ability to provide timely assistance, with implementation expected by August 2025.

A case study highlights the challenges faced by one family in Lahti, whose daughter Lotta, a third grader, previously enjoyed attending school. Due to neuropsychiatric challenges, including autism and attention deficit disorder, Lotta struggles with emotional regulation and social situations and requires a calm learning environment. Her parents initially sought a small group placement, but there were no available spots, leading Lotta to a mainstream classroom.

Despite being assessed for special support, the family found the assistance inadequate, causing Lotta immense stress and leading to physical symptoms like migraines. A particularly traumatic incident occurred during a school meeting, where an incident involving a special education teacher resulted in Lotta sustaining bruises, raising concerns about the appropriateness of the teacher’s methods.

Ultimately, Lotta’s situation improved when she started attending a hospital school, but her parents believe that her educational needs are still not being adequately met. The city of Lahti acknowledges challenges in accommodating students needing specialized support and emphasizes that educational entities must balance the need for assistance with the goal of fostering independence. The current system, however, has been criticized for its inconsistency, often failing to bring students like Lotta into supportive educational environments, thereby risking their exclusion from society altogether.