The Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture has published a development framework for its comprehensive education system.
In February 2026, the Finnish Government published Basic Education 2045: For Life A Vision for Finnish Comprehensive Schools, which provides its long term priorities for the ‘development of the education system in a rapidly changing global environment.’ The document is meant to serve as a development framework for comprehensive education (ages 7-18). The vision took into account the views of 5,000 people in Finland and includes Finnish and international research.
The vision summary states that the purpose of comprehensive education is to prepare students for a changing world and to ‘equip them with the capacity to change the world and to shape society’, building on the foundations of meaning, hope, agency and the common good.
Some of cited areas of focus in this summary, include:
- alleviating social polarisation
- strengthening democracy
- using rapidly evolving technology wisely
- and living within the planetary boundaries.
Speaking about the vision, the Ministry of Education and Culture explains that:
“In our vision, school is for life: for a meaningful life, life together, and life on the planet. The future of basic education is built on sivistys or Bildung, meaning, hope, agency, and the common good. The most profound transformation envisioned for the future of basic education is to continue the learning journey from individual knowledge and skills towards shared agency and the co-creation of a meaningful life together.”
Key elements of the vision.
- School is for life.
- Schools are for every student.
- A life of meaning and purpose as the goal of school.
- Schools are culturally and linguistically diverse.
- Schools are future skilled.
- Schools have strong community links and collaboration.
- School communities build wellbeing and hope for the future.
- Ecological sustainable schools to support the wellbeing of the planet and students themselves.
- Using tech and AI to transform foundations and practice of learning.
- Strengthening social mobility – high expectations and adequate supporting for learning and growth.
- Safe school ethos.
- Meaningful careers for school staff.
The ministry identified global challenges that have prompted the need for a long-term vision, such as ‘the ecological and economic sustainability crisis, mental health and wellbeing challenges and the fragmentation of experiences of meaningfulness and values’.
An article from the Ministry of Education and Culture emphasises wellbeing as foundational to learning. It explains that schools need to ensure the psychological, social and physical wellbeing of everyone in their school community, stating that, “A safe and thriving school is a place where one can fail safely, and where everyone’s success is celebrated.” It also highlights the importance of collaboration with families and the wider school community, talking about how this strengthens equality, helps actively engage parents and supports schools in ‘carrying out their pedagogical mission’.
It is also noted that while technology such as AI tools can support learning that ‘human thinking and empathy’ are crucial to school practice.
Learn more
References
- Ministry of Education and Culture (2026) ‘Basic Education 2045: For Life – A Vision for Finnish Comprehensive Schools’. Available at: https://julkaisut.valtioneuvosto.fi/server/api/core/bitstreams/b13f3ae6-e2ab-48f8-8a22-921aa177b4f2/content (Accessed: 23rd March 2026)
- Ministry of Education and Culture (2026) ‘ Vision for Finnish comprehensive schools 2045’. Available at: https://okm.fi/en/-/vision-for-finnish-comprehensive-schools-2045 (Accessed: 23rd March 2026)
- Ministry of Education (2026) ‘Basic education 2045: For Life – Vision Summary’. Available at: https://julkaisut.valtioneuvosto.fi/server/api/core/bitstreams/fc3f23c8-a2e4-4a57-80b7-e0682c36e65c/content (Accessed: 23rd March 2026)
