The proposal of the service network project group has been completed.

11.5.2026 News Education and training Participate and influence Service network Preschool education Town government Basic education Decision making Program for a stable economy

Low school building, asphalt yard in front. — Pohjolanrinne Middle School. Photo: Jenniina Nummela

The proposal of the project group that updated the early childhood education and basic education service network of the city of Riihimäki has been completed. Earlier in the spring, the project group selected two daycare centers, two elementary schools, and one middle school for review.

The project team's proposal to the city council, which acts as the steering group for the service network, is as follows:

The city is giving up two early childhood education units, namely the main building of the Junailijankatu daycare center (Junailijankatu 14) and the Saturnus daycare center (Saturnuksenkatu 2) located in the city center. The Saturnus daycare center operates as part of the Peltosaari daycare center. The facilities will be replaced with a new daycare center building located in Peltosaari. Preschool education will be organized in connection with the schools.
Sixth grade students in basic education will continue their studies in primary schools, provided the schools' space capacity allows it. Currently, sixth grade students in Riihimäki are transferring from primary schools to middle schools.
The city will abandon Lasitehdas Elementary School in the 2030–2031 school year at the earliest, but in the 2031–2032 school year at the latest. The school will only be abandoned after the completion of the second-grade classes, i.e. the facilities for teaching organized by operating area.
The city will abandon Pohjolanrinne Middle School in the 2031–2032 school year at the earliest, but in the 2032–2033 school year at the latest.

Review to be carried out every council term

According to the project group's proposal, the city will make a separate decision on the closure of schools no later than two years before the school's operations end. In addition, the project group proposes that the early childhood education and basic education service network would be reviewed every council term in the future. The review would assess, among other things, the operating environment and population structure.

The project group's proposal was not unanimous. Sari Kykyri of the Finns Party submitted a dissenting opinion on the section regarding primary schools. The project group is operated by the Education and Welfare Board.

"The focus of the project group's work has been to ensure a smooth school path for all children and young people in Riihimäki. In addition, the goal has been to enable everyone to have equal opportunities for growth and learning, and to ensure that group sizes do not increase," says Director of Education Jari Lausvaara.

The city council will consider the proposal on May 18th.

The City Board will discuss the project group's proposal at its meeting on Monday, May 18, 2026. After this, the matter will proceed to the City Council for consideration.

The City Council decided to start updating the early childhood education and basic education service network at its meeting on December 8, 2025. In the study, the service network refers to the network of daycare centers, preschools, and elementary and middle school locations.

The service network study is based on the significant decrease in the number of children in Riihimäki, which will reduce the government transfers the city receives in the coming years and thus increase the need for economic adjustment. The study is a key part of the preparation of the city's stable economic program.

Riihimäki currently has ten kindergartens, three middle schools and six elementary schools. This figure does not include Peltosaari Elementary School, which the city council decided on March 16, 2026, to close starting from the next school year.

More information about the city's service network can be found at Service network surveyfrom the website.