Basic Principles of Finnish Education
Finnish education and science policy stresses quality,
efficiency, equity and internationalism
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Equal opportunities
Comprehensive education
Competent teachers
Student counselling and special needs education
Encouraging assessment and evaluation
Significance of education in society
A flexible system based on empowerment
Co-operation
A student-oriented, active conception of learning
Everyone has the right to free basic education
Basic Principles of Finnish Education
 no tuition fees in general and vocational upper
secondary education, in polytechnics or in universities
 Education is primarily co-financed by the government
and local authorities
local authorities pay 54.7% of the cost of basic
education, general upper secondary education,
vocational education and training and polytechnic
education.
 Universities, continuing vocational and professional
education and liberal adult education are statefunded
Basic Principles of Finnish Education
• Mandatory for all children between 7 and 16 yrs old (since
1921)
• Equality of access
• Free of charge (from pre-school to university)
• School-based curriculum
• National curriculum framework
• Municipal & school curricula developed locally
• Prepares for lifelong learning
• Teacher autonomy in instruction
• Voluntary preschool education offered to all 6 year old
children (95% attend)
Administration in education
 Educational legislation is passed and the general
principles governing education are determined by
Parliament
 Government and the Ministry of Education and
Culture, formulate and implement education policy.
 The National Board of Education, which is
subordinate to the Ministry, has many tasks relating
to the provision of education and its development
 Local authorities have a duty to provide basic
education for children living in the municipality
Basic education in a nutshell
✓ a nine-year comprehensive curriculum for the whole age group
✓ teaching is provided by schools near the home
✓ no degree; a final certificate will be given for completing the
syllabus
✓ teaching, text books and teaching materials, school transport and
school meals are free
✓ basic education includes a one-year long voluntary pre-primary
education in a school or day-care centre
✓ local authorities can also provide voluntary morning and
afternoon activities for pupils in basic education
✓ provides the necessary prerequisites for all upper secondary
education
Schools at Present
• About 3300 schools of which 215 have grades 1 to 9
• General comprehensive school has 14 subjects in
grades 1 to 6 and a few more in grades 7 to 9
• Religion is a mandatory subject
• Newest subject is health education (2004-)
• First foreign language at the 3rd grade (English
and German most popular)
• Handicraft has been a school subject since 1860s
Secondary Education
• Upper secondary school (high school)
• 2-4 year program leading to Matriculation Examination
Individual curriculum for all students – nongraded program,
everyone studies according to his/her own study plan
• mandatory courses (47-52)
• advanced courses (min 10)
• same subject courses (max 15)
• applied courses (max 20)
Secondary Education
 Finnish upper secondary schools are typically small,
having 100- 400 students, only 8 schools over 1000
students
• 417 upper secondary schools in the country, total is
about 100000 students
• About 58% of the student go to upper secondary
school
• Entrance restricted (grade marks based admission
criteria)
• Free for students, except books and materials
Vocational Education
• Government has guaranteed access to further
vocational or general education for all comprehensive
school graduates
• Around 40% of students choose vocational education
• Programs are generally 3 yrs long (120 ECTS credit
points)
Vocational Education
 Education free of charge, including lunch and
transportation from home; books and materials not
free
 20 credits general studies, 80 credits vocational and
20 practical at the work place
 Over 200 different vocational programs offered
 Around 7000 students combine their vocational and
upper secondary school studies and make both
vocational degree and ME in a four year program
Upper Secondary Vocational
Education and Training in a Nutshell
 Admission requirement is the completion of basic education syllabus;
 Education providers primarily select their students based on earlier
academic achievement but may also hold entrance exams or aptitude tests
and may take the applicant’s work experience into consideration;
 Application takes place through a joint application system electronically;
 The studies primarily aim at obtaining the vocational skills needed in
working life;
 Additionally, three-year studies give general eligibility to apply for studies at
universities and polytechnics ;
 Opportunities for individual progress in studies have been enhanced;
 A vocational upper secondary qualification can be obtained through
attending a vocational school, through apprenticeship training, or through a
competence test;
 20 credits (around 6 months) of the studies are conducted on-the-job;
 Skills demonstrations were launched in 2006 as proof of having reached the
goals given to vocational studies.
Higher Education
• Finland has a dual higher education system
• 16 universities (1.1.2010)
• 26 polytechnics (1.1.2009)
• It is possible to apply to higher education after a
Matriculation exam or vocational degree
Higher Education
 Total of 307300 students in higher education
 Ministry of Education policy: 50% of 30-34yr age have
higher education degree by 2015
 The Universities Act requires that universities
promote free research, offer scientific and artistic
education based on research and educate students to
serve their country and humanity. In carrying out this
mission, universities must interact with society and
strenghten the impact of research on society.
Polytechnics:
Universities of applied sciences
 Professional higher education degrees offered in the
areas labour market requires highly educated
professionals
 Polytechnics are municipal or private institutions,
authorized and supported by the Ministry of
Education
 Are autonomous in their internal affairs
Polytechnics:
Universities of applied sciences
 Degrees offered:
• Polytechnic Bachelor’s degree
• Polytechnic Master’s degree
• Further education and specialization studies
• Open polytechnic education
Universities
 11 multidisciplinary universities, 1 school of economics and
business administration, 2 universities of technology and 2 art
academies
 New university legislation in 2010
 All universities are public, autonomous institutions governed by
themselves and funded mostly by support from the state budget
 Most popular programs are primary school teacher education,
psychology, mass media, social sciences
 Open university system offers university level basic studies to
everyone interested
Universities
 Universities are autonomous and independent of state
(also financially)
 Freedom of research and education
 Degrees are based on Bologna treaty (180-300 ECTS)
(since 2008)
 Students are accepted to study Master’s degree but have
to take Bachelor before making the Master’s (MA, MSc)
 Entrance to universities very restricted: typically 15-20%
of the applicants are accepted at the Univ of Tampere;
30-40% to universities of technology
Adult Education
 Both general and vocational adult education aimed to
promote the idea of lifelong learning
 General adult education institutes supported by the
state and municipalities (e.g. community colleges)
 Courses do not lead to degrees
 Vocational adult education institutes offer same
degrees as institutes for young students
 Curricula fitted for adult purposes
 Shorter programs – previous skills tested in working
context exams
Adult education
 Adult education policy is designed to provide a wide range of study
opportunities for the adult population
 General and interest-oriented:
- General upper secondary schools for adults;
- Folk high schools;
- Adult education centres, study centres, and educational
organisations;
- Physical education centres;
- Institutions providing basic art education, like music
institutions;
- Summer universities.
Adult education
Vocational:
 Institutions providing vocational education and training;
 Vocational adult education centres;
 Specialised vocational institutions;
 Continuing education centres of universities;
 Polytechnics;
 Home economics counselling organisations;
 Organisations for crafts and design.