16.9.2020 | The Government will create conditions for growth in competence levels and employment by extending the duration of compulsory education, allocating funding for continuous learning and lowering fees for early childhood education and care. With the proceeds from gambling services diminishing, the funding for beneficiaries will be fully secured for 2021.

1.12.2020 | Research and innovation activities in the health sector will be developed in a target-oriented way in 2020–2023. People’s health and wellbeing will be improved through research and technological development. Steps will also be taken to advance Finland’s international position as a forerunner in health sector research and innovation, investment and new business.

17.2.2021 | The objective of the student admissions reform is to streamline the transition to higher education and to improve the allocation of student places. In the monitoring study commissioned by the Ministry of Education and Culture, researchers from the Labour Institute for Economic Research (PT) and the VATT Institute for Economic Research examined whether the reform succeeded in its objectives. The study will be completed in spring 2022. This interim report presents provisional data on the study.

29.4.2020 | In its negotiations today, 29 April, the Government decided to lift the restrictions on early childhood education and care and those on primary and lower secondary education on the basis of an assessment by the health authorities. Contact teaching in early childhood education and care as well as primary and lower secondary education will resume on 14 May in a controlled manner and with care for safety.

24.3.2021 | Finland’s plan to build a new museum for architecture and design has taken an important step today as the Ministry of Education and Culture, along with the City of Helsinki, have established a new project organization to coordinate the planning of the new museum. Kaarina Gould – former Program Director of Helsinki’s World Design Capital year in 2012, current Executive Director of the Finnish Cultural Institute in New York – has been appointed to lead the project.

22.4.2020 | The Government met today, 22 April, to update Finland’s coronavirus strategy for preventing the spread of COVID-19, after having consulted experts for their assessments of the situation.

12.3.2020 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the Ministry of Education and Culture will issue a recommendation to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus and to protect professionals and persons at risk.

26.2.2021 | A study on the effects of diminished proceeds from gambling activities has been completed. The study examines four options for developing the Finnish gambling system. The working group sets as its primary option a comprehensive overhaul that would place gambling proceeds within the scope of universal coverage in central government revenue and existing beneficiaries would be under the spending limits procedure. The report was published on 26 February.

18.6.2020 | The Ministry of Education and Culture is launching an extensive programme for guidance counselling to support guidance counselling in primary education, lower secondary education, general upper secondary education and vocational education and training. The programme is part of the extension of compulsory education. Approximately EUR 19 million per year will be allocated from 2021 onwards to support guidance counselling.

16.4.2020 | On Thursday 16 April, the Government submitted to Parliament its proposal for the General Government Fiscal Plan for 2021-2024. Agreement was reached on the General Government Fiscal Plan in connection with the government session on spending limits on 8 April. The Government has increased appropriations in the General Government Fiscal Plan for extending compulsory education and for implementing the reform of central government transfers for performing arts, among others.