Compared to 2007/2008, the number of general education schools dropped by seven during the 2008/2009 academic year: the number of primary schools dropped by three; the number of basic schools dropped by one; and the number of secondary schools and upper secondary schools dropped by three.
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Number of general education schools according to school type during the 2008/2009 academic year.
Local governments have established catchment areas for municipal school grades 1–9. Schools must admit all children under the minimum school-leaving age who live in their catchment areas. Parents can influence the development of schools through the schools’ boards of trustees.
Pursuant to the Education Act, preschool education is acquired either in a preschool child care institution or at home, and its acquisition is the responsibility of the child’s parents or guardians. Parents of children who go to child care institutions or who stay at home have the right to receive advice about educating and raising their children from the teacher of the child care institution in their region.
There are four types of preschool child care institutions – day nurseries (for children 1 to 3 years of age), nursery schools (for children 1 to 7 years of age), special nursery schools, and nursery-primary schools. Most child care institutions have 1–3 groups of children and are mainly located in rural areas. Child care institutions in cities usually have up to 12 groups. However, the maximum number of groups in new child care institutions is 6.
