Finland considers ending religious teaching in schools as part of a major reform aimed at creating a single shared worldview subject for all pupils. The Ministry of Education and Culture says the change would address growing equality concerns and rising education costs amid declining student numbers.
A working group appointed by the ministry has recommended replacing traditional religious instruction in comprehensive schools with a unified curriculum covering religions, belief systems, and ethical questions. The proposal comes as Finland faces demographic shifts and shrinking pupil cohorts, which are putting pressure on the education system and complicating school timetables.
Currently, Finnish pupils study either a religion linked to their registered faith or a secular ethics course. Schools must provide teaching in a particular religion if at least three pupils belong to that faith community. In larger cities, this has led to complex scheduling, with some schools offering more than a dozen separate religious courses.
The working group argued that this structure is increasingly unsustainable. They noted that over 500,000 pupils studied religion or ethics in 2024, with most attending Evangelical Lutheran classes, followed by ethics, Islam, and Orthodox Christianity. As birth rates fall and pupil numbers decline, municipalities face smaller student cohorts while per-pupil costs continue to rise.
Under the proposed model, a single worldview subject would replace multiple religion and ethics classes. This approach is designed to foster equality among pupils, make scheduling simpler, and contain education costs. It would also accommodate Finland’s growing population of pupils with migrant backgrounds, who often require instruction in minority religions.
Demographic trends suggest the number of comprehensive school pupils could fall by about 96,000 by the 2030s. Annual public spending on basic education now exceeds 10,000 euros per pupil, with municipalities covering roughly three quarters of the cost. The working group emphasized that shrinking pupil numbers should not automatically lead to cuts in education funding, calling continued investment in basic education “essential for Finland’s future success.”
The report highlighted challenges including teacher recruitment for smaller subjects, which sometimes forces schools to offer classes remotely or outside school buildings. Remote learning is proposed as one solution to address shortages in teaching minority religions or languages.
Finland has also seen a significant consolidation of schools. The country had around 4,000 comprehensive schools at the start of the century, but now fewer than half remain. In one fifth of municipalities, only a single school operates, limiting options for reorganizing the network efficiently.
The working group submitted its final report to Education Minister Anders Adlercreutz, who will forward the recommendations to the next government for legislative consideration. Helsinki plans to pilot a common worldview course in schools starting August 2027. The report includes nine additional proposals covering funding, school transport, remote teaching, and inter-municipal cooperation to support this transition.
