Finnish security police warn of unregulated home schools as enrollment triples

A private Christian school in Lappeenranta operating without official oversight is among those raising concerns at Finland’s Security Intelligence Service (Supo), which has flagged the rapid growth of unregulated home schools as a potential national security risk.

The school, named Omenapuu (Apple Tree), serves 15 pupils in grades 1–6 and follows Finland’s national curriculum but lacks an operating license, meaning it cannot issue official primary school certificates. Supo’s senior researcher Anna Santaholma told Yle the agency is particularly alarmed by the social segregation these schools may foster, warning that isolated groups could become vulnerable to “activities threatening security” over time.

Enrollment in home-based education—including both informal home schooling and unlicensed schools like Omenapuu—has surged threefold in seven years, reaching nearly 1,000 children (0.18% of Finland’s student population) in 2025. While most home-schooled children learn under parental guidance, schools like Omenapuu function like traditional primary schools but operate outside state supervision.

At Omenapuu, lessons begin with prayer and Bible verses, though the school’s board chair, Pauliina Korhonen, insists religious values do not influence academic content. The school has applied five times for an operating license since 2020, with the Finnish government citing insufficient professional and financial qualifications in its rejections. Korhonen acknowledged only one of the school’s five teachers holds formal teaching credentials but claimed the staff consults that teacher as needed.

Parents like Hanne Huoso, whose daughters attend Omenapuu, chose the school for its small size and sense of community. “Everyone knows each other here,” Huoso said, dismissing Supo’s warnings. The school shares a playground with a neighboring public primary school, and its curriculum mirrors the national standards, using the same textbooks as licensed schools.

Supo’s concerns extend beyond oversight gaps. Santaholma linked the rise of home schools to broader residential segregation, where families withdraw from public systems due to perceived insecurity. “When groups isolate themselves from society, it can lead to serious divisions,” she said, emphasizing the risks if such trends become widespread.