Finnish schools provide special-needs education and additional education in support learning. A pupil who cannot follow education owing to a disability, illness, delayed development or some other reason can be admitted or transferred to special-needs edu¬cation. Whenever possible, special-needs education is intergrated into regular education or given in a special class. It is also possible to extend the duration of com¬pulsory schooling for special-needs pupils, in which case compulsory schooling starts in the year when the child turns six and lasts 11 years.
Young people who have completed the basic educa¬tion syllabus can continue their education for one extra year. This voluntary ‘10th grade’ is intended to help and encourage young people to continue their studies at the upper secondary level.