Education Committee: No savings in morning and afternoon activities or school transportation in general basic education

The committee debated extensively on proposed cost-saving measures in early childhood education and basic education. The most discussed topic was the closing of Tervajoki Daycare Centre and School.

The Committee was proposed to seek the largest savings in basic education and early childhood education by closing the school and daycare at Tervajoki in autumn 2026.

Following a vote, the committee decided to propose to the City Board that the school and daycare centre be granted an extension until 2027 based on regional policy considerations, provided that the City Council alleviates the savings requirement in basic education and early childhood education with a corresponding amount.

The committee is reluctant to end school coaching activities

The committee also decided to propose to the City Board that morning and afternoon activities for 1st and 2nd grade students would continue. The cost-saving measure will be replaced by an adjustment to the fee concerning these activities. Currently, the per-student fee for morning and afternoon activities is €120.

The committee unanimously decided not to terminate school coaches, provided that the City Council alleviates the savings requirement in basic education with a corresponding amount.

The committee also proposes to the City Board not to raise the mileage limit for free school transportation from three to five kilometres, provided that the City Council alleviates the savings requirement in basic education with a corresponding amount.

For specialised education (language immersion, music classes, English instruction), the committee approved the proposal to discontinue free student transportation.

Savings in early childhood education are sought through closing daycare centres and centralisation of non-standard hour care

Regarding early childhood education, it was proposed to the committee to close Leipuri Daycare Centre and the group family daycare Veitikka on July 31, 2025.

The committee was also proposed to centralise non-standard hour daycare services to only one daycare centre (Punahilkka Daycare Centre) and thus end non-standard hour daycare services at Villi Länsi Daycare Centre on August 1, 2024.

The Committee approved both proposals and will forward them to the City Board and City Council for approval.

Balancing proposals to proceed to Vaasa City Board and City Council

Following the committee review, the balancing proposals will proceed to the City Board on April 22, 2024, and to the City Council on April 29, 2024.

The City of Vaasa is implementing an economic balancing programme. The goal of the programme is to find savings of approximately 40–50 million euros in the city’s operations for the years 2024–2027. The pressure for savings is largely due to the generally weakened financial situation of municipalities, resulting from reduced amounts of both tax revenue and central government transfers to the municipal governments. Several other municipalities in Finland are facing the same situation.