Online high school cannot replace local schools facing closure, says principal

Online learning cannot be the primary solution for replacing small high schools at risk of shutdown, according to Miia Sivén, principal of Nettilukio, Finland’s national online upper secondary school. The warning comes as a new report predicts a sharp decline in high school student numbers over the next 15 years, likely forcing the closure of smaller institutions.

The Finnish Association of Upper Secondary School Students (SLL) also opposes shifting youth education entirely online, instead advocating for hybrid models with clear quality standards. “We need stricter national guidelines for distance learning to ensure quality is maintained,” said SLL chair Pietari Meriläinen. The association proposes regional cooperation between municipalities and adjustments to funding models to keep local schools accessible.

Currently, Finland’s Nettilukio offers full upper secondary education online but primarily for adults—minors can enroll only with compelling reasons, such as living over 100 kilometers from the nearest school. Even then, capacity is limited. “We’ve assessed that we cannot serve more underage students due to legal obligations under the compulsory education act,” Sivén explained. The adult curriculum covers roughly half the scope of the youth program, as adults are assumed to have prior skills.

Sivén acknowledged that online learning in high schools will likely grow but stressed its limitations. “Peer interaction in physical classrooms is vital for youth, and not all students have the self-discipline for fully remote studies,” she said. Both Sivén and Meriläinen agreed that while some closures may be inevitable, every student should have access to a high school within a reasonable distance from home.