The number of comprehensive school–age children in Finland is projected to fall by more than 65,000 over the next five years, according to consulting firm Finnish Consulting Group (FCG).
According to a report by commercial broadcaster MTV, experts from the firm warn that the decline could result in the closure of roughly 500 elementary schools and 150 lower secondary schools. Reductions are also anticipated at the upper secondary level.
Lead consultant Raila Oksanen noted that, in terms of scale, at least one in every four schools could be affected.
"By 2030, there will be roughly 66,000 fewer 7–15-year-olds, and that's just five years away. School commutes will get longer, and the number of teachers will decrease."
According to Oksanen, the current demographic shift is unusually large, and solutions to the birth rate crisis need to be sought far more aggressively than at present.
There are over 50 municipalities where fewer than ten children were born last year, Finland is becoming depopulated, according to MTV.
Cruises cost more in English
Helsingin Sanomat found that booking a cruise through a ferry company's English-language website can cost tens of euros more than booking through the Finnish site.
HS conducted a spot check to see how cruise prices vary when switching the website language, examining random dates in August, September, November, and December. The review covered cruises from both Helsinki and Turku to Stockholm.
For Tallink Silja, HS found that all checked cruises were more expensive when booked through the English-language site. For Viking Line, day cruises from Turku to Stockholm showed a price difference, while Helsinki–Stockholm cruises were priced the same in Finnish and English.
The ferry companies acknowledge the pricing discrepancies.
"International groups and travel primarily come through Tallinn and Turku. Naturally, prices rise where demand is highest," said Minna Tuorila, Viking Line's Commercial Director, who added that Finnish- and Swedish-language sites run more promotions to ensure enough availability for the local market.
Tuorila said that customers booking in English can access Finnish site prices by calling customer service, though the call carries a fee.
Tallink Silja's CEO, Margus Schults, however, could not explain why this happens — "If it's exactly the same product, the price should be the same."
After the interview, Tallink Silja clarified by email that its English-language pages target international travellers and that occasional market-specific price differences apply. The company said the English version is not intended for customers in Finland, so pricing differs from the Finnish site.
The companies said ferry prices, like airline fares, are dynamic, influenced by season, events, departure time, and day of the week.
"Departures early in the week, from Sunday to Wednesday, are the most affordable days," said Tuorila.
Teens high on energy (drinks)
Ilta-Sanomat reported on a new study showing that energy drink use among young people has risen sharply between 2014 and 2022. The increase is particularly pronounced among girls, with the number of 15-year-old girls consuming energy drinks several times a week increasing sixfold over this period.
Overall, energy drink use rose steadily across all age groups, according to Maija Puupponen, the researcher at the University of Jyväskylä, who conducted the study.
The study found that weekly energy drink consumption among adolescents was associated with other unhealthy behaviours, such as skipping breakfast, getting insufficient sleep, and problematic use of social media or substances.
The World Health Organisation recommends restricting energy drink marketing to children, and many European countries have already banned sales to minors. In Finland, the current recommendation applies to children under 15.
"Adolescence is a critical stage for the development of health behaviours, and harmful habits can continue into adulthood, increasing the risk of long-term health problems and related costs," said Puupponen.
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