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The nine-year basic education, or comprehensive school, is compulsory for all children aged between 7 and 16. Compulsory education begins in the year during which a child turns seven and ends when the basic education syllabus has been completed or when ten years have lapsed since the beginning of the compulsory education. 

Local authorities assign a school place to each pupil close to their homes.

In Kuopion there are two private schools which offer basic education: Steinerkoulu Virkkula and Kuopion kristillinen yhtenäiskoulu.

Basic education for adults is offered in Kuopio Community College (Kuopion kansalaisopisto) and Pohjois-Savo's College (Pohjois-Savon opisto).

When you are moving to Kuopio and you have school children, please check the basic education schools from the map and contact your nearest school head master: Comprehensive schools in Kuopio – School districts