Finnish Education system “A source of well-being for all”

1. Finnish Education system“A source of well-being for all” Riitta Gerlander, Embassy of Finland 28 November 2007

2. Contents 1. Finland at a glance 2. Features of the Finnish education system 3. School autonomy 4. Pre-school education 5. Primary education 6. Upper Secondary education 7. Higher education 8. Challenges 9. Why Finland ranks high in international comparisons?

3. Independent since 1917, member of the European Union since 1995 Total area 338,000 km2, Population 5.2 million (17 inhabitants / km2) Two official languages: Finnish 94 %, Swedish 6 %, (Saami 0,03%) Religion: Lutheran (84 %), orthodox (1 %) 74,6 % of population (aged 25 to 64) have completed upper secondary or tertiary education. 33,2 % have university or other tertiary qualifications Immigrants: 2 % of population Working life: 86 % of women (aged 25-64) are employed outside the home Finland at a glance

4. Features of the Finnish education system • Equal opportunities for education irrespective of domicile, sex, economic situation or mother tongue • Regional accessibility of education • No separation of sexes • Education totally free of charge • Comprehensive, non-selective basic education • Supportive and flexible administration: centralized steering on the national level --> local implementation • Interactive, co-operative way of working at all levels; idea of partnership • Individual support for learning and welfare of pupils

5. Statistics of the schools (2004)

6. School autonomy • Curriculum • National Core Curricula by National Board of Education • Guidelines by the municipality – local orientation • School-based curriculum • Annual work plan and budget, recruitment of teachers and staff • Decisions on group forming, daily work rhythm and other practices • Profiling of schools by contents • Text books and other materials • Central approval procedures abolished 1993 • Decisions on school level • Pedagogical autonomy of teachers • Voluntary participation in national development programs

7. Pre-school education”Learning by playing” • For children from 6-years-old --> • 99,9 % of the entire age group (2004) • The instruction is not divided into subjects • Various fields covered: language, mathematics, ethics and philosophy, environmental and natural studies, health, physical development, art and culture

8. Primary education • 9 years of comprehensive school (age 7 - 15) • Teaching, textbooks, meals, health service and travel to and from school free of charge • About 65 000 pupils start school every fall • Large urban schools and small village schools • Almost all schools are municipal • Seperate schools for the Swedish-speaking population

9. HIGH SCHOOL Students 16 - 19 years of age about 37 000 new students every year Gives eligibility for higher education General education, 3-year syllabus Divided into courses (1 course = 38 hours): compulsory, specialisation and applied courses (18 compulsory subjects) School year usually divided into 5 or 6 periods Distance and virtual teaching has been developed Ends in a national matriculation examination (min. 4 tests) VOCATIONAL EDUCATION & TRAINING 7 sectors of education (Social and healthcare, Technology and traffic etc.) Gives eligibility for higher education 52 vocational qualification including 113 different study programmes (3 years, 120 cr) Apprenticeship training and competence-based qualification Upper Secondary educationOver 50% of the age group complete upper secondary school education

10. UNIVERSITIES Mission: to carry out scientific research and to give education based on it Multifaculty universities, Universities of technology, Schools of economics and business administration, Art academies Coming: Innovation university POLYTECHNICS Mission: to provide ”hands-on education” with a practical approach Answering the needs of the regions’ own industry and the SME sector as a whole TREND Fewer schools, combining forces, searching for synergies Higher education33,2 % have university or other tertiary qualifications

11. Challenges • Equality in education • School satisfaction and well-being at school • Learning outdoors of the school • Exclusion • Career counseling • Support for learners • Special-needs teaching: Disabled people, top intelligent ones • Development of secondary education • Development of teaching of immigrants; Internationalisation • Development of researcher training and research as a career • Increasing the interaction between research and society

12. Why Finland ranks high in international comparisons? Compared to other Nordic countries • Tradition • Teacher profession • Value of education • Orientation of work • Projects and their implementation • Practical development • Teachers in key role • Organizers of education were also involved • Strong support towards pupils • Special education

13. Questions?