The topic of homeschooling children has sharply divided public opinion in Finland over recent years, especially as the practice has grown in popularity.
According to figures from the Finnish National Agency for Education, there were 945 children being homeschooled in Finland last year — a figure that has tripled over the course of seven years.
While that share remains small (just 0.18 percent) compared to the overall number of schoolchildren, the growing numbers have raised concerns among education professionals and authorities about the welfare of homeschooled children.
The reasons that parents decide to homeschool their children vary widely — from keeping their child away from bullies to a belief that the child's neurodivergent needs are better catered for at home.
"I suppose every parent would want to protect their child from all possible pain and suffering, but we can't do that. Every day I was able to let my children grow and strengthen at home in peace, and that made them more prepared to face that world," one former homeschooling parent told Yle.
However, monitoring teachers interviewed by Yle noted that all too often the reasons behind the decision to homeschool a child are so-called "value-based", such as religious beliefs or extremist ideologies.
Jari Andersson, a school principal in the Pirkanmaa region who also works as a monitoring teacher for homeschooled children, told Yle that other concerns range from whether a child is getting a good education based on the national curriculum to the impact homeschooling can have on a kid's social skills and sense of belonging.
"In some cases, homeschooling is legalised neglect," Andersson stated, adding that he would want Finland to introduce an outright ban on the practice.
Unlike countries such as Sweden and Germany, Finland has no law on compulsory school attendance. This means that a simple note from a parent or guardian to the local municipality is enough to start homeschooling a child.
Although a child's progress is monitored by officials such as Jari Andersson, authorities have very limited powers when it comes to putting a stop to a child's homeschooling, even if they struggle to pass the basic tests.
Ombudsman for Children Elina Pekkarinen told Yle that she was not in favour of a complete ban on homeschooling, but she acknowledged that "homeschooling makes it possible to avoid authorities".
The high-profile disappearance of the Karf family from their home in Ostrobothnia last year has been linked to a dispute over homeschooling.
Juha Martelius, head of the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service (Supo), has also warned of the dangers of homeschooled children becoming marginalised or even radicalised.
In an interview with Yle, Education Minister Anders Adlercreutz (SPP) said authorities should have more powers to suspend homeschooling, especially in cases where a child's compulsory education requirements are not being met.
