Autumn school holiday started for thousands of children

National Agency for Education asked families to spend time reading together.

Finnish children take a break in their academic obligations. A week of autumn holidays started today for thousands of school children in Greater Helsinki, Tampere, Vaasa, Joensuu, Jyväskylä and Kajaani.

The Finnish school calendar provides for a staggered holiday. That means those children who do not enjoy their autumn holidays this week may do so next week.

The National Agency for Education (OPH) has declared this week a "reading holiday", and called on families to spend some time reading together.