The City of Kouvola has 48 City-maintained comprehensive schools. During the 2010-2011 school year there will be more than 8,450 pupils in these schools.
Providing basic education is stipulated by the Basic Education Act and the Basic Education Decree along with the Government Decree on the General National Objectives and Distribution of Lesson Hours in Basic Education. The single structure, nine year comprehensive school provides citizens with the necessary general education. The compulsory education is finished after children of compulsory school age have finished comprehensive school or have otherwise completed the syllabus of basic education. The City assigns pupils a place in a local school, but, under certain conditions, pupils are free to enrol in another school if it has places available.
During the year before compulsory education begins, children can participate in pre-primary education in a school or in a day-care centre. The City provides and coordinates voluntary morning and afternoon activities for pupils in basic education. For pupils who have finished comprehensive school, the City also provides additional voluntary education. In the same way, the City provides preparatory basic education for immigrant pupils before they start the actual basic education.
Basic education, textbooks and other materials are free of charge for pupils. Pupils are also offered a free daily meal. Pupils in basic education living some distance from school (more than 5 km) or whose journey is considered dangerous are entitled to free transport. The scope of the basic education syllabus is nine years and it is the same for the whole age class. The comprehensive school gives no degree; instead, final certificates are given for completing the syllabus. The comprehensive school provides the necessary prerequisites for all upper secondary education.
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