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Published: 18 February 2022

Number of comprehensive schools decreased further

According to data in Statistics Finland’s register of providers of education and register of educational institutions, there were 689 active providers of education and 3,049 educational institutions in which around 1.79 million students pursued studies at the end of 2021. There were 2,085 active comprehensive schools.

Number of comprehensive schools by grade in 2012–2021

In 2021, a total of 547,300 pupils attended comprehensive schools. Active comprehensive school level special education schools numbered 60 and they had 3,500 pupils. There were 469 active joint schools comprising comprehensive school grades 1 to 9. In ten years, the share of joint schools in comprehensive schools has risen by nine percentage points. In the corresponding time period, the share of primary schools has decreased by seven percentage points and that of lower secondary schools by two percentage points.

Number of closed down and merged comprehensive schools and special education schools at the comprehensive school level in 2021

A total of 51 comprehensive schools or comprehensive school level special education schools were closed down or merged with another educational institution. Five of them were educational institutions with under 20 pupils and the number of both educational institutions with between 20 to 49 pupils and with at least 50 pupils was 23. Most comprehensive schools and comprehensive school level special education schools were closed down in Uusimaa, 10 educational institutions in total. The next highest number of closures and mergers was recorded in Southwest Finland, altogether eight educational institutions.

Changes from the previous year to educational institutions in the education system by type of educational institution in 2021

Type of educational institution	Number	Change from previous year 1)	Students 2)
11 Comprehensive schools	2 085	-44	547 300
12 Comprehensive school level special education schools	60	-1	3 500
15 Upper secondary general schools	331	-4	114 700
19 Comprehensive and upper secondary general level schools	41	1	28 400
21 Vocational institutes	80	-2	216 600
22 Special needs vocational institutes	5	-	5 600
23 Specialised vocational institutes	17	-1	11 300
24 Vocational adult education centres	10	-	14 200
28 Fire, police and security service institutes	1	-	300
29 Military vocational institutes	6	-	..
41 Universities of applied sciences	24	-	160 300
42 Universities	13	-	164 800
43 Military academies	1	-	1 200
61 Music schools and colleges	83	-	60 100
62 Sports institutes	13	-	14 500
63 Folk high schools	70	-2	14 200
64 Adult education centres	173	-1	390 600
65 Study circle centres	12	-	15 900
66 Summer universities	18	-1	26 800
99 Other educational institutions	6	-	400
Total	3 049	-55	1 790 700

1) The change is described in more detail in Appendix table 1. Changes from the previous year to educational institutions in the education system by type of educational institution in 2021.
2) The data on the number of students is as a rule according to the situation on 20 September 2021 and include the number of all students in educational institutions belonging to the type of educational institution regardless of the level of education (both education leading to a qualification or degree and not leading to a qualification or degree). Data are preliminary concerning pre-primary and comprehensive education, general upper secondary education, university of applied sciences education, university education and vocational education.

In 2021, the number of providers of education was in total two lower than one year earlier. Of the providers of education, 48 per cent were municipalities or joint municipal authorities, four per cent were central government units and 45 per cent private. The remaining three per cent of the providers of education operated in the region of Åland. In 2021, eleven new providers of education were added to the register of providers of education. The number of educational institutions was 55 lower than in the year before.

Source: Education Statistics. Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Marika Wegelius 029 551 3411, koulutustilastot@stat.fi

Head of Department in charge: Hannele Orjala

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Tables

Appendix tables

• Appendix table 1. Changes from previous year made to educational institutions of the school system by type of educational institution 2021 (18.2.2022)

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Updated 18.2.2022