Finland has released EUR 67.8 million into a one-off municipal equality fund to help schools and pupils in difficulty.
The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted inequalities between children in Finland. Some students studying at home received plenty of support, while others have had to cope on their own with the school’s own support.
"A similar type of difference is evident in broader learning outcomes. The coronavirus crisis is a wake-up call to stem the rise in growing inequality," Minister of Education Jussi Saramo (Left) said.
Uneven playing field
On Wednesday, the government used € 68 million in education funding to prevent education gaps between rich and poor areas. The Minister of Education said he wanted such funding to become an established practice.
"Equal access to education cannot always be taken for granted," he said.
Municipalities can apply for equality funding for education for specific purposes.
"This special funding can support areas with high unemployment or areas with a low level of education, as well as places with a lot of foreign language speakers. All of these factors put children at risk of lower learning outcomes," he explained.
International studies show that the differences between Finnish schools are the smallest in the world. However, the gap between the best and worst performing schools in the country is widening.
"The establishment of a permanent form of equality would be an important step in further strengthening the ability of the Finnish education system to provide every child and young person with the opportunity to learn fully," Saramo explained.
He also noted that learning difficulties had occurred during distance learning periods after the onset of the pandemic. According to him, the upcoming budget negotiations were a time to address the setbacks of learning. He noted that if ignored, they could later lead to employment problems.
"It is therefore necessary to agree on funding in the budget discussions in order to help fill gaps in the knowledge, skills and well-being of children and young people," he said.
Source: The Nordic Page