Helsinki, Tampere Lead Call for Nationwide Mandatory School Attendance Law

According to YLE, six major Finnish cities, led by Helsinki and Tampere, are urging the next government to tighten homeschooling rules and make school attendance mandatory except in exceptional cases. Helsinki mayor Daniel Sazonov said, "Schooling is much more than just curriculum; it's a social process." He argued the change is vital for children's welfare and integration because many pupils in Helsinki speak a language other than Finnish or Swedish at home.

Currently about 200 children in Helsinki are homeschooled, roughly 0.4 percent of pupils, while Tampere has fewer than 50 children taught at home, according to Tampere deputy mayor for education services Anne‑Mari Jussila.

City leaders say the present system, where homeschooling is merely a notification and monitoring varies by municipality, leaves gaps. The six cities want clear, equal national rules on when homeschooling is allowed and how learning is evaluated.

Tampere says the move is not motivated by fears of radicalisation and already allocates 20 specialist teachers to assess homeschooled students.

Helsingin Sanomat first reported the push. Sazonov has suggested a law could be prepared after next spring's parliamentary elections and take effect by autumn 2028 if advanced.

The initiative follows a 2026 YLE MOT investigation that found lapses in homeschooling oversight. It also echoes earlier calls from education groups to protect mother‑tongue instruction for pupils with immigrant backgrounds and language education advocates.