HELSINKI — The Finnish Government will open a new national survey on November 10 to gather the views of pupils in grades 5–9 on issues they consider important, officials announced on Friday.
The initiative aims to strengthen youth participation in shaping policies for the next government term.
“The responses of children and young people will guide us as we prepare for the next government term,” the Government Communications Department said in a joint press release with several ministries, including Education and Culture, Finance, Justice, and Social Affairs and Health.
The results will be compiled and published in spring 2026, alongside the Permanent Secretaries’ key messages, ensuring that “the voices of children and young people are heard” in national policymaking.
The inclusion pilot consists of two stages — a national survey and Timeout dialogues — and targets students in comprehensive schools across Mainland Finland. Both the survey and discussions will address issues identified by Permanent Secretaries as key societal challenges, including safety and trust.
The survey will be sent directly to all schools and distributed through child and family organizations. It will remain open until November 28.
According to the government, the project seeks to establish a lasting model for incorporating the views of children and young people into ministerial decision-making.
“The Government is committed to promoting the inclusion of children and young people in all sectors,” the statement noted, adding that this goal was reaffirmed during the mid-term policy review in spring 2025.
The pilot supports the implementation of Finland’s National Child Strategy, the National Democracy Programme, and the National Youth Work and Youth Policy Programme. It is coordinated by the National Child Strategy team in cooperation with the Prime Minister’s Office and several ministries, with Motiva Oy responsible for conducting and analysing the survey.
The dialogues will be organised together with the Timeout Foundation.
