Model for supporting attendance and intervening in school absences
THE RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE STUDENT AND GUARDIAN
Every child permanently residing in Finland is subject to compulsory education. The guardian of a child subject to compulsory education shall make sure that compulsory education is completed.
Compulsory education begins in the year the child turns 7 and ends when the child turns 18, or before this if they complete upper secondary education (matriculation examination or a vocational qualification) or an equivalent foreign qualification. Compulsory education should take place in children’s basic education till the basic education syllabus has been completed, however, at the latest till the end of the academic year of the calendar year that the student turns 17.
Students must participate in the education that has been prescribed by the Basic Education Act and in which they have been admitted unless they have been granted temporary exemption under special circumstances.
Students should perform their assignments conscientiously and behave appropriately. Students are not allowed to bully or discriminate against others or behave in such a way that risks the health or safety of the other students, school community or learning environment.
Sources: Basic education – MEC – Ministry of Education and Culture
Basic education | Finnish National Board of Education (oph.fi/en)
