Completing compulsory education in Omnia

The aim of compulsory education is to ensure that everyone has the necessary basic skills and education, and to promote equal opportunities for personal development according to individual abilities and needs.

Under the Act on Compulsory Education, compulsory education continues until

• the student turns 18 or
• completes an upper secondary qualification (vocational qualification or matriculation examination).

The aim is for everyone to complete upper secondary education. As a rule, compulsory education is completed in upper secondary general or vocational education, and it can also be completed as an apprenticeship.

• If a young person of compulsory school age is without a student place, their municipality of residence will look for a place in cooperation with the guardian and the young person in a programme such as preparatory education for an upper secondary qualification (TUVA).
• During TUVA studies, you can complete some vocational studies or general upper secondary studies or improve your grades from comprehensive school. TUVA studies also include a module on study and career planning skills.

Compulsory education is regulated by the Act on Compulsory Education.

Responsibilities of a student in compulsory education

A personal study plan is made for the student. The student must progress according to their personal plan and participate in learning and guidance as planned. The plan takes into account the student’s personal goals and abilities. The plan will be updated during the studies.

The student may lose their right to study if they do not follow the plan. For more details, please see the section on Loss of right to study.

At Omnia, students receive support and guidance for their studies from the coordinating teacher, other teachers and instructors, as well as from the study counsellor and special needs teacher. In addition, student welfare services (school social worker (in Finnish), nurse and psychologist (in Finnish)) are there to support students.

Guardian’s responsibilities

The guardian must ensure that the young person applies for upper secondary education after comprehensive school education. If a person of compulsory school age does not receive a student place through the joint application process, the obligation to apply continues until they receive a place.

The guardian or other legal representative of a young person of compulsory school age must ensure that the young person completes compulsory education.

The guardian can monitor the student’s progress and absences through the Wilma system. It is important that the guardian activates the Wilma account. Omnia announcements and messages are also received through Wilma.

The guardian’s responsibility ends once the student is above compulsory school age or the student has completed the matriculation examination or a vocational qualification.

Omnia’s responsibilities

Omnia is responsible for guiding, supervising and supporting the student in completing compulsory education. Omnia maintains contact with the guardian. The guardian or other legal representative of the student can also actively communicate with the coordinating teacher and the student’s study counsellor and other support staff as the studies progress.

The guardian or legal representative of an underage student has the opportunity to participate in the preparation of the student’s personal competence development plan (PCDP) at the beginning of the studies and to update the plan as the studies progress.

If a student’s progress in studies is insufficient and if the student does not complete their studies according to their study plan, we will examine the matter together with the student and their guardian. Together, we will plan the necessary support measures and other opportunities to complete compulsory education. If necessary, the student will also be referred to other services (healthcare and social services, youth services, rehabilitation services).

Free services

Upper secondary education is free of charge for students in compulsory education. The right to free education lasts until the end of the calendar year in which the student turns 20.

The following are free of charge for the student:

• tuition
• meals on school days
• textbooks and other materials needed for learning, such as a computer
• equipment, clothing and supplies needed for participation (for the duration of the studies)
• the five matriculation examination tests required for the matriculation examination at the end of general upper secondary school or a double qualification, plus the opportunity to retake failed tests
• transport to school for distances of 7 km and over, through the Kela transport subsidy system.

Reasonable fees may be charged for optional field trips, visits, events and other similar activities that complement your studies.

In the case of education that emphasises a particular interest in the field, the student remains responsible for the personal equipment needed, such as musical instruments and sports equipment, that the student also uses outside of the classroom.

When the free education period ends, the student is responsible for paying for study materials, work clothes, etc.

Extending free education

A student can apply for an extension to free studies if their completion has been delayed because:

• the completion of compulsory education was discontinued on the basis of Section 7 of the Act on Compulsory Education
• after the end of the compulsory school age (for persons over 18 years), the completion of education was temporarily discontinued on the grounds specified in the relevant education act (Section of 23 Act on General Upper Secondary Education and Section 96 of the Act on Vocational Education and Training)
• they have had to change their field of study for health-related or other serious reasons
• completing their studies has taken longer because of learning difficulties
• they have completed preparatory education after comprehensive school education
• their completion of the comprehensive school syllabus has been delayed.

You can apply for an extension at least 6 months before the end of the free education period. You must apply before free education expires. In general, the free education can be extended by up to one year.

Instructions for applying for an extension of the free education period

1. Please contact your study counsellor well before the end of the free education. A discussion with your study counsellor can help you to find out whether you meet the criteria for an extension. You will also receive instructions on how to obtain any further documents you may need.
2. Please contact your study counsellor by 5 December, at the latest, to ensure that your application is processed in time. You cannot apply for an extension afterwards.
3. Fill in the application form together with your study counsellor.
4. Accept your application by using your Wilma ID. Please note that your application will not be processed until you have approved it personally in Wilma.
5. The decision on the extension of free education is made by the Branch Director of Omnia, the Joint Authority of Education in the Espoo Region. The decision will be available in Wilma.

Loss of right to study

A student may lose their right to study if it is obvious that they do not intend to participate in the tuition or demonstration of competence according to their personal competence development plan and have not provided a justified reason for their absence.

In this case, the student in compulsory education is considered to have forfeited their studies within one month of the last time they participated in the tuition or demonstration of competence according to their personal competence development plan.

Before a student in compulsory education is considered to have forfeited, a hearing is held with the student and their guardian. After the decision of the student having forfeited has been made, the responsibility for monitoring and supervising compulsory education is transferred to the student’s municipality of residence.

Temporary or indefinite discontinuation of studies in compulsory education

A student in compulsory education can discontinue their studies temporarily or permanently.

A young person can discontinue their studies if the reason is

1. an illness or disability that prevents studying
2. maternity, paternity or parental leave
3. a temporary stay abroad, for example, for studies abroad or when a young person’s family moves abroad temporarily
4. a difficult life situation that prevents studying.

The decision to discontinue compulsory education is made at the request of the student or their guardian or other legal representative. In Omnia, students can contact their designated study counsellor for questions related to discontinuing studies.

Compulsory education is usually discontinued temporarily, i.e. put on hold for a limited time. The discontinuation is valid for as long as its cause exists. The young person will then return to education later.

Compulsory education can also be discontinued permanently, i.e. indefinitely. This is only possible if a permanent illness or disability prevents the student from studying.

Omnia offers support and information to help you complete your studies

We support our students in completing their studies in many ways. The student and the guardian can contact the study counsellor and the coordinating teacher in matters related to the student’s studies, for example, to check the study plan and to find out about support measures.

When a student in compulsory education and under the age of 18 starts their studies, their guardian will also receive personal access to the Wilma service, where they can follow the student’s progress, receive Omnia announcements, and send messages.

If there are many absences or if the studies are otherwise not progressing, an Omnia study counsellor and the coordinating teacher will contact the student’s guardian. If a student is considering discontinuing their studies, they will receive guidance if they need it to find out about different study options or to apply for another type of education, for example.

At Omnia, students are also supported by student welfare workers, including school social workers, psychologists, and nurses. At the Upper Secondary School for Adults, students are covered by student welfare services until they turn 18.

For more information, please contact