Recently, the question of homeschooling has come up for discussion, with the number of homeschools more than doubling in a short period of time.
Finland’s Compulsory Education
Finland has compulsory education, but not compulsory school attendance. Parents can make the decision to withdraw their child from school and provide education in accordance with the national curriculum, for example, at home. Authorities cannot intervene in this. Schools do appoint a so-called supervising teacher for such students subject to compulsory education, whose task is to monitor that studies progress as planned in the homeschool.
Who Is Responsible for Homeschooling?
No parent makes such a decision lightly. In homeschooling, responsibility for the child’s learning rests entirely with the parents. The child does not receive free textbooks and other materials, is not entitled to school health services, or school meals. Usually, the reason for homeschooling a child is related to health reasons, such as sensory stimuli in the school environment, large group sizes and noise, or the school’s strict schedules. The reason may also be bullying that has not been eradicated. It may therefore be a conscious choice by families and a reaction to problems in the school system. In addition, nowadays an increasing number of parents are considering the possibility of homeschooling also because Finnish comprehensive school is unfortunately no longer any guarantee that a child will not be subjected to extreme ideology such as SETA’s teachings.
Legislative Change to Homeschooling?
Minister of Education Adlercreutz has proposed a legislative change that would mean compulsory school attendance.
This, in turn, would mean that a large proportion of those students who are in homeschools would discontinue their studies because they are unable to attend school. For the vast majority of these students, homeschooling is a lifeline that enables them to progress in their studies.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights also has something to say on this matter. Article 26, paragraph 3 states that
“Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.”
Here, parents are placed at the center of decision-making. The state may not unilaterally dictate what ideological or pedagogical upbringing a child receives, but parents have and must continue to have the right to choose a model that suits the family’s values.