Education Policy in Finland

EDUCATION POLICY IN FINLAND
Education policy in Finland

The
basic principles of Finnish education is that all people must

have equal access to high-quality education and training.
The
same opportunities to education should be available to all

citizens irrespective of their ethnic origin, age, wealth or
where they live.
Education
policy is built on the lifelong learning principle.
Public
authorities must secure equal opportunities for every

resident in Finland to get education also after compulsory
schooling and develop themselves, irrespective of their
financial standing.
Education
is free at all levels from pre-primary to higher

education.Adult education is the only form of education that
may require payment.
Objectives
promoting
equality in education
enhancing
the quality of education at all levels
supporting
lifelong learning
to
reduce gender and regional differences in skills and

education levels as well as the impact of socioeconomic
background on participation in education.
to
combat unemployment and exclusion among young people

through education
Early childhood education and care

All
children under school-age have a subjective right to early

childhood education and care (ECEC).
The
Finnish ECEC is based on an integrated approach to care,

education and teaching (educare)
Learning
through play
The
content of ECEC is guided by the

National Curriculum Guidelines on ECEC (2003).
Participation
in ECEC is subject to a fee which depends on

family income and the number of children.
Basic Education
Basic
education is non-selective
Objective:
- to support pupils growth towards humanity and ethically

responsible membership of society
-to provide them with the knowledge and skills needed in life.
caters
for all those between 7 and 16 years.
Schools
do not select their students, every student is allocated a

place in a nearby school, but they can also choose another
school with some restrictions.
All
school follow a national core curriculum, which includes the

objectives and core contents of different subjects.
Upper secondary education and

training
Dual
structure
-general
-vocational
upper secondary education
Both
forms usually take three years and give eligibility for

higher education
Vocational
education and training is popular in Finland,

more than 40 per cent of the relevant age group starts
vocational upper secondary studies immediately after basic
education.
The
selection of students for upper secondary school is based

on their grade point average for the theoretical subjects in
the basic education certificate.
Adult education
Objectives:
-ensuring
the availability and competence of the labour
force
-providing
educational opportunities for the entire adult
population
-strengthening
social cohesion and equity.
The
objectives should support efforts to extend working

life, raise the employment rate, improve productivity,
implement the conditions for lifelong learning and enhance
multiculturalism.
includes
labour market training, which is mainly targeted at

unemployed people.
Higher education
dual
structure
Higher
education is provided by universities and polytechnics,

also known as universities of applied sciences.
Universities
emphasise scientific research and instruction,

whereas polytechnics adopt a more practical approach.
There
is restricted entry to all fields of study. The applicant

volumes outweigh the number of places available. Therefore
universities and polytechnics use different kinds of student
selection criteria. Most commonly these include success in
matriculation examination and entrance tests.
Teacher education
Teachers
in Finland are highly trained. In general education

all teachers are required a Masters degree.
In
vocational education teachers should have a Masters

degree or Bachelors degree.
The
high level of training is seen as necessary as teachers

in Finland are very autonomous professionally.
Teaching
and guidance staff within day-care centres

generally have Bachelors degrees. Pre-primary teachers in
schools hold a Masters degree.

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EDUCATION POLICY IN FINLAND

Education policy in Finland

basic principles of Finnish education is that all people must

same opportunities to education should be available to all

policy is built on the lifelong learning principle.

authorities must secure equal opportunities for every

is free at all levels from pre-primary to higher

the quality of education at all levels

reduce gender and regional differences in skills and

combat unemployment and exclusion among young people

Early childhood education and care

children under school-age have a subjective right to early

Finnish ECEC is based on an integrated approach to care,

content of ECEC is guided by the

in ECEC is subject to a fee which depends on

- to support pupils growth towards humanity and ethically

for all those between 7 and 16 years.

do not select their students, every student is allocated a

school follow a national core curriculum, which includes the

Upper secondary education and

upper secondary education

forms usually take three years and give eligibility for

education and training is popular in Finland,

selection of students for upper secondary school is based

the availability and competence of the labour

educational opportunities for the entire adult

social cohesion and equity.

objectives should support efforts to extend working

labour market training, which is mainly targeted at

education is provided by universities and polytechnics,

emphasise scientific research and instruction,

is restricted entry to all fields of study. The applicant

in Finland are highly trained. In general education

vocational education teachers should have a Masters

high level of training is seen as necessary as teachers

and guidance staff within day-care centres

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