Finland’s education minister proposes major changes to school holidays

Finland’s education minister has proposed shifting summer holidays later and adding a new week-long break in April, a plan that has drawn mixed reactions from students, parents, and teachers, reports Yle.

Education Minister Anders Adlercreutz (National Coalition Party) first suggested in August that summer holidays should start two weeks later than currently scheduled. Now, he has also proposed introducing an additional week of holiday in April. The minister argues that a later summer break would better align with practices in many other European countries and ease pressures on families and businesses.

Students’ opinions on the proposal are divided. Ninth-graders at Kilpinen Comprehensive School in Jyväskylä expressed skepticism about extending the spring term in exchange for a later summer break. “The spring term already feels long as it is,” said Iitu Puttonen. Classmate Manrico Sippula Barrones welcomed the idea of a longer summer but admitted he might find it frustrating to attend school deeper into June, when summer has already begun.

Rasmus Hankimaa, a fifth-grader from Espoo, supported both changes. “I’ve noticed that without enough breaks, school gets tiring quickly,” he said, adding that he would use an April holiday to rest and attend ice hockey practice.

Teachers, however, strongly oppose lengthening the spring term. Roosa Pelto-Arvo, a physical education teacher in Jyväskylä, and Erja Moilanen, a subject teacher in Tampere, both warned that an extended spring term would further strain students and staff. “Two extra weeks would definitely weaken everyone’s ability to cope,” Pelto-Arvo said. Moilanen noted that many students already struggle with sleep and focus as daylight increases in spring, making classrooms restless by May. “I’m not sure how an extra week in April would fix that,” she said. “What meaningful work could even be done in classrooms by late June?”

The Trade Union of Education (OAJ) also opposes the changes. In a survey conducted over a year ago, nearly 80 percent of its members rejected the idea of delaying summer holidays. OAJ chair Katarina Murto criticized the minister’s rushed timeline, arguing that a single week in April would do little to improve well-being during the long spring term.

Parents, meanwhile, face practical challenges. Ivanna Malko, a mother of a first-grader in Espoo, said her son would enjoy an April break but admitted it could complicate childcare arrangements. “It sounds good for the kids, but it would be harder for me since my own leave isn’t that long,” she said. Kati Grönvall, a parent representative in Hämeenlinna, acknowledged the potential benefits but noted that an extra holiday week would require parents to take more time off work or arrange additional childcare. She remains open to the idea, however, calling it a “potentially workable solution” to adjust the school year’s rhythm.

The Ministry of Education and Culture has launched a review of the summer holiday shift, though the proposal is not included in the current government program. Some coalition parties have already expressed reservations or opposition to the changes.