1. Name of  Association

National Association of Independent Schools in Finland

2. Country

Finland

3. Year

2005, November

4. Prepared by

Aki Holopainen, chairman

5. New national legislation for independent schools:

Please describe new laws which are in force or are being prepared.

   Finland has a common legislation for both private and public (city or state owned) schools.

At the moment, no significant changes are prepared in legislation.

In the latest legislation, which came into effect a few years ago, the biggest changes concerned specifying students’ rights in student welfare services and increasing the disciplinary measures in schools.

6. National discussions:

Discussions about the situation of the independent schools.

Do the discussions take place in the media, if yes, which questions are raised.

There has been no extensive public debate. The topics of discussion concern the costs of education (private schools are more efficient) and endangering educational equality (some fear that private schools increase inequality).

7. Situation of the Association:

Progress, stagnation, decline.

Problems, challenges for the Association.

The status of our National Association is stable. We will celebrate our 70^th anniversary on November 11, 2005. On October 13 we published a digital register of Finnish private schools. (www.yksityiskoulut.fi)

A specific functional challenge is to open a discussion with the current Minister of Education to be able to ask about the grounds on which the Ministry of Education treats the applications to establish new private schools negatively.

8. Independent schools in general.

Growth or decline?

The schools’ financial situation?

The number of schools has remained stable. The economy of schools is stable as well. The so called old private schools receive the same monetary funding as state contribution as public schools in the same city.

However, the so called new private schools (established after the year 1998) only receive 90% of the state contribution.

9. Special initiatives:

Has the Association during the past year made any particular initiatives in order to promote the work in the independent schools?

We have organized further training both for headmasters and teachers (eg. in civics, computer studies, religion, philosophy and ethics).

This type of training will continue also in the future.

10. Other relevant information.

The chairman of our National Association visited Estonia last spring in order to create contacts with local private schools.

The aim was to encourage the Estonians to found a national association of their own and participate in ECNAIS meetings.