Experts call for stronger oversight of homeschooling in Finland

Children’s rights are not always upheld in homeschooling, and oversight should be increased and made consistent across Finland, child ombudsman Elina Pekkarinen and assistant principal Pekka Poikajärvi told Yle.

Some cases in Finland and elsewhere have involved homeschooling being used to avoid authorities or to impose beliefs that are not in a child’s best interests, Pekkarinen said.

Both experts said homeschooling works well for many children, depending on how it is organised. But Pekkarinen said some children may get fewer opportunities to develop social skills. While some acquire skills equal to or better than those learned at school, others may be neglected or mistreated, she said.

Parents are responsible for homeschooling. A supervising teacher checks whether children learn the subjects required by the curriculum, but the law does not specify how often or in what way that learning must be monitored. Pekkarinen and Poikajärvi said oversight should be strengthened and regulated so that support is consistent across the country.

Finland had 945 homeschooled children last year, three times as many as seven years earlier. Poikajärvi said the increase is partly linked to greater recognition of neurodevelopmental challenges. Some families turn to homeschooling when support at school is insufficient. Other reasons include family beliefs, bullying and young people’s commitment to sport. Homeschooling can also be temporary, for example during a long family trip.

Poikajärvi coordinates homeschooling in Tampere. He said learning at home tends to work better for primary school pupils, whose subjects are easier to teach at home than the more demanding material in lower secondary school.