Studying English in school on rise

Studying English in grades 1 to 6 increased in 2020 compared to the previous year, according to Statistics Finland.

A total of 93 per cent of pupils in grades 1 to 6 studied English, which is 10 percent higher compered to the previous year.

Almost all students in grades 7 to 9 studied English. The share of those studying Spanish and German went up in grades 7 to 9, while the share of those studying French and Russian remained almost unchanged.

Eighteen per cent of pupils in grades 1 to 6 and 92 per cent of pupils in grades 7 to 9 studied Swedish as a foreign language. German was studied by ten per cent and French by five per cent of the pupils attending grades 7 to 9, mainly as an optional or elective foreign language.

Altogether 98 per cent of those who had completed the curriculum in basic education for adults studied English.

A total of 364,461 pupils completed grades 1 to 6, of whom 186,424 were boys and 178,037 girls.

The number of pupils having completed grades 7 to 9 was 179,635, of whom 91,969 were boys and 87,666 girls. Altogether 1,299 completed basic education for adults.