In Finland, the recent expansion of compulsory education has resulted in a growing influx of students with special support needs entering vocational schools. This shift has raised significant concerns among educators and policymakers about the adequacy of the current support systems in place. Starting next August, a reform of learning support aims to strengthen the low-threshold assistance available to these students, ensuring they receive the necessary help to succeed in their educational pursuits.

In addition to the new support reforms, the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities has initiated an investigation into the type of rehabilitative education that is required in vocational schools. According to Ilkka Eronen, a special expert at the Association, the expansion of compulsory education has revealed weaknesses within the educational system. He notes that not all young people possess the skills required to achieve the established educational goals, which include challenges related to life management, mental health, and substance use. The risk of these challenges leading to school dropouts is significant, raising concerns about their prospects for success in education and the workforce.

With the extension of compulsory education to age 18 in 2021, the Finnish government aims to ensure that every student completes a secondary education. However, the support structures required to facilitate this goal are now coming under scrutiny. Eronen emphasizes the necessity of providing adequate rehabilitative education to address these challenges, as failure to do so may result in young individuals being left outside of education and the labor market, echoing wider societal implications for future generations.