Minimum school-leaving age rises to 18

The minimum school-leaving age has been extended to 18 years and the new act will be applied first in case of school-leavers who are set to finish comprehensive school this spring, said the Ministry of Education and Culture in a press release on Thursday.

The ministry will disseminate more information on the legal reform to young people through the social media. School-leavers finishing comprehensive school will also be sent information on the reform to their home address.

The Act on Compulsory Education will enter into force on 1 August 2021, but the provisions related to the obligation to apply already entered into force on 1 January 2021.

The obligation to apply means that all 9th graders in comprehensive school will apply for upper secondary education in the joint application procedure between 23 February and 23 March 2021, or in some other way.

The ministry will be giving information on the reform to young people between February and March using the Ministry’s Instagram account.

Minister of Education Jussi Saramo will be visiting schools online through Teams in the spring and will answer students’ questions. One Q&A that will be held at the Kaukovainio School in Oulu on 15 February at 10-10:45 hours will also be live-streamed on the YouTube channel of the Ministry of Education and Culture.

Saramo will also hold a Q&A session for young people on the Ministry’s Instagram account. The first Q&A will be held on 22 February.

The ministry will also be sending 9th graders and their parents and guardians information about the reform to their home address.