Education policy in FinlandFinnish education and science policy stresses quality, efficiency, equity and internationalism. It is geared to promote the competitiveness of Finnish welfare society. Sustainable economic development will continue to provide the best basis for assuring the nation's cultural, social and economic welfare. The overall lines of Finnish education and science policy are in line with the EU Lisbon strategy. In Finland, the basic right to education and culture is recorded in the Constitution. Public authorities must secure equal opportunities for every resident in Finland to get education also after compulsory schooling and to develop themselves, irrespective of their financial standing. Legislation provides for compulsory schooling and the right to free pre-primary and basic education. Most other qualifying education is also free for the students, including postgraduate education in universities. Parliament passes legislation concerning education and research and determines the basic lines of education and science policy. The Government and the Ministry of Education and Culture, as part of it, are responsible for preparing and implementing education and science policy. The Ministry of Education and Culture is responsible for education financed from the state budget. The Government adopts a development plan for education and research every four years. Mainpage Education Education Policy

Related topicsEducation and research 20072012. Development Plan. Publications of Ministry or Education 2008:11 Key competences for lifelong learning in Finland. Education 2010 interim report

LinksGovernment Programme Strategy for the internationalisation of Finnish higher education institutions Share

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Education System in FinlandThe Finnish education system is composed of nine-year basic education (comprehensive school), preceded by one year of voluntary pre-primary education; upper secondary education, comprising vocational and general education; and higher education, provided by universities and polytechnics. Adult education is available at all levels. In Finland, pre-primary education, basic education and upper secondary education and training, complemented by early childhood education and before- and after-school activities, form a coherent learning pathway that supports children's growth, development and well-being.

Students' opportunities to progress from one level of education to the next is safeguarded by legislation. Both general and vocational upper secondary certificates provide eligibility for further studies in universities and polytechnics. A student completing one level is always eligible for the next level studies. The qualifications of each level are governed by a separate Act of Parliament. This assures harmonised qualifications and their quality and guarantees students' rights. Basic education is free general education provided for the whole age group. Upper secondary education consists of general education and vocational education and training (vocational qualifications and further and specialist qualifications). The higher education system comprises universities and polytechnics, in which the admission requirement is a secondary general or vocational diploma. Universities, which are academic or artistic institutions, focus on research and education based on research. They confer Bachelor's, Master's, licentiate and doctoral degrees. Polytechnics offer work-related education in response to labour market needs. A polytechnic degree requires 3.5 - 4.5 years of full-time study. The requirement for polytechnic Master's programmes is a polytechnic degree or equivalent, plus a minimum of three years of work experience in the field concerned. Adult education is provided at all levels of education. Adults can study for a general education certificate or for a vocational qualification, or modules included in them, take other courses developing citizenship and work skills, or pursue recreational studies. The welfare of Finnish society is built on education, culture and knowledge. All children are guaranteed opportunities for study and self-development according to their abilities, irrespective of their place of residence, language or financial status. All pupils are entitled to competent and high-quality education and guidance and to a safe learning environment and well-being. The flexible education system and basic educational security make for equity and consistency in results. Mainpage Education Education system

More informationThe finnish education system (pdf) Le systme ducatif finlandais (pdf) Das Bildungssystem in Finnland (pdf) Share

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General education in FinlandChildren permanently living in Finland have a statutory right and obligation to complete the comprehensive school syllabus. Nearly all children (99.7%) do this. The principle underlying pre-primary, basic and upper secondary education is to guarantee basic educational security for all, irrespective of their place of residence, language and economic standing. All children have the right to participate in voluntary pre-primary education during the year preceding compulsory schooling. Nearly all 6-year-olds do so.

A Finnish child usually starts schooling at the age of seven. The nine-year basic schooling is free for all pupils. The school year, which has 190 working days, starts in mid-August and ends in the beginning of June. The summer holidays are over 60 days. Local authorities arrange voluntary morning and afternoon activities for first- and second-year pupils and for special-needs pupils. General upper secondary education commonly takes three years to complete and gives eligibility for polytechnic and university studies. At the end of the upper secondary school students usually take the national matriculation examination.Success in international comparisons

Finland has fared well in international comparisons, such as the OECD PISA programme, which assesses learning outcomes among 15-year-old students in mathematics, science, reading literacy and problem-solving. Finnish students figured at the top all the lists in key subjects, and differences between students, schools and regional were comparatively very small. At the Ministry of Education and Culture, matters relating to education and science policy come under the Department for Education and Science Policy.Mainpage Education General Education

Basic educationBasic education is free general education provided for the whole age group (currently c. 60,000 children). After completing the basic education syllabus young people have finished their compulsory schooling. It does not lead to any qualification but gives eligibility for all upper secondary education and training. Basic education in brief: Basic education is free nine-year education provided in comprehensive schools. The local/school curriculum is based on a national core curriculum. Education is provided in neighbourhood schools or other suitable places which make school travel as short and safe as possible. Schools cooperate with pupils' homes. A pupil is entitled to special-needs education, if necessary. It is possible to continue basic education on a voluntary basis (for a tenth year). A school-leaving certificate is issued on the completion of the syllabus, but give no actual qualification. The certificate gives access to all upper secondary education and training. Teachers are highly educated. Nearly all children complete their compulsory schooling.

Compulsory schooling starts in the year when children turn seven and ends after the basic education syllabus has been completed or after ten years.

Basic education is co-financed by local authorities and government.

The network of comprehensive schools covers the whole country. The majority of pupils attend medium-sized schools of 300-499 pupils. The smallest schools have fewer than ten pupils and the largest over 900 pupils. Local authorities have a statutory duty to provide education for children of compulsory school age living in their areas. The language of instruction is mostly Finnish or Swedish, but also the Sami, Roma or sign language may be used. Swedish-speaking pupils come to under 6% and Sami-language pupils under 0.1% of all pupils. There are around 15,000 school-age children with immigrant background, whose integration is supported in many ways.Pupil welfare

Pupil welfare services mean different forms of support to pupils' learning, mental and physical health and social well-being. In pre-primary and basic education, pupils are entitled to the welfare services they need to be able to follow teaching. These include services recorded in the curriculum, health care under the Public Health Act, and support to child-rearing under the Child Welfare Act. In upper secondary schools and in vocational education and training the education provider must see to it that the students know about the health and welfare services available to them and that they use the services when needed.Special-needs education

A pupil/student who has minor learning or adjustment problems is entitled to remedial teaching alongside regular education. A pupil who cannot follow education owing to a disability, illness, delayed development or some other reason can be admitted or transferred to special-needs education. Whenever possible, special-needs education is integrated into or given in a special class attached to regular education. Each pupil with special learning needs has an individual teaching and learning plan.Additional basic education

Young people who have completed their compulsory schooling can opt for one extra year. This voluntary education is intended to help and encourage young people to continue their studies at the upper secondary level. About three per cent of students avail themselves of this possibility.Highly qualified teachers

Year-classes 1- 6 are mainly taught by class teachers and year-classes 7-9 by specialised subject teachers. As a rule, all teachers have a Master's-level university degree.Mainpage Education General Education Basic education

Related topicsBasic Education Act 628/1998 [Finlex] Basic Education Decree 852/1998, translation (pdf) Distribution of lessons in basic education (xls)

LinksThe National Board of Education Immigrant education [The National Board of Education]Share Print Top of page Tm artikkeli suomeksi Denna artikel p svenska

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Pre-primary educationPre-primary education is available free of charge for children one year before they start actual compulsory schooling. Its aim is to develop children's learning skills as part of early childhood education and care. Local authorities have statutory duty to arrange pre-primary education, but for children participation is voluntary and decided by parents. About 96% of the six-year-olds go to preprimary school. The Ministry of Education recommends that a pre-primary teaching group only include 13 children, but if there is another trained adult in addition to the teacher it may have up to 20 children. Pre-primary instructors have either a kindergarten teacher qualification or a class teacher qualification. Pre-primary pupils who live over five kilometres from school or whose school travel is too difficult, tiring or dangerous for their age are entitled to free school transportation. Local authorities and other providers of pre-primary education receive statutory government transfers. Mainpage Education General Education Pre-primary education

LinksEarly childhood education and care (ECEC) in Finland (National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health STAKES) Share

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Morning and afternoon activities for the youngest pupils

Morning and afternoon activities are guided recreational activities intended for first and second year pupils in comprehensive schools. The local authorities can decide on the provision at their discretion, and participation is voluntary for children. The aim is to support school and home education, to promote children's emotional and ethical growth and well-being and to offer opportunities for guided, recreational and safe activities outside school hours. Morning and afternoon activities may be sports or relate to practical skills, oral or pictorial expression, music, everyday chores or knowledge in different areas. The time can also be used for doing home work. It is also possible to arrange school clubs and basic education on arts within this system. Local authorities receive government transfers for morning and afternoon activities. Mainpage Education General Education Morning and afternoon activities Share

tudent financial aid in Finland

According to the programme of Matti Vanhanen's Second Government, student financial aid will be developed on the present basis to secure income during full-time studies and to promote efficient studies and graduation in the normative time. The study grant will be raised by 15% at all levels of education and the income limit for students by 30%. The effectiveness of the tax concession for study loans will be monitored.

Mainpage Education Student financi

Finance and administrationThe Ministry of Education and Culture drafts legislation and government decisions pertaining to general education and steers activities in the sector according to policy outlined in the Government Programme and the development plan Education and Research 2003 -2008. The government determines the general objectives of basic education and the division of classroom hours between different subjects. The National Board of Education decides on the aims and core contents of instruction in different subjects, recording them in a national core curriculum, which education providers and schools use as the basis for their curricula. The National Board, which is subordinate to the

Ministry, is responsible for developing education, enhancing its effectiveness and monitoring education provision. Practical teaching arrangements are the responsibility of the education provider, who generally is a local authority or a municipal education consortium. The education provider must evaluate its education and its effectiveness and participate in external evaluations of its provision. International comparisons and reviews (e.g. PISA) are conducted by OECD and other organisations.Financing from the government and education provider

Pre-primary, basic and general upper secondary education and training leading to a qualification are provided free of charge. Local authorities may charge a small fee for morning and afternoon activities provided in conformity with the Basic Education Act. Local authorities provide education for children of pre-primary and compulsory school age living in their areas, and the central government shares the costs by granting statutory government transfers to them. The statutory government transfer is calculated on the basis of a unit cost (/pupil) determined annually by the Ministry of Education. In 2006, the government paid 54.7% and municipal authorities 45.3% of the cost of basic education.Mainpage Education General Education Finance and administration

LinksBasic Education Act 628/1998 [Finlex] Basic Education Decree 852/1998, translation (pdf) Distribution of lessons in basic education (xls) The Finnish National Board of Education The Finnish Education Evaluation CouncilShare Print Top of page

Education in FinlandFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search This article needs additional citations for verification.Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2010)

Education in Finland

Ministry of Education Minister of Education Minister of Culture Henna Virkkunen Stefan Wallin National education budget (2003) Budget: 5.9 billion (1100 per capita) General Details Primary Languages: System Type: Current system Finnish and Swedish National since 1970s Literacy (2000) Total: Male: Female: 100 100 100 Enrollment Total: Primary: Secondary: Post Secondary: n/a 99.7% (graduating) n/a n/a Attainment Secondary diploma Post-secondary diploma 60% ac., 45% voc. 25% (of pop.)

Secondary and tertiary education divided in academic and vocational systemsvde

The Finnish education system is an egalitarian Nordic system, with no tuition fees for full-time students. Attendance is compulsory for nine years starting at age seven, and free meals are

served to pupils at primary and secondary levels (called lukio in Finnish), where the pupils go to their local school. Education after primary school is divided into vocational and academic systems. As the trade school is considered a secondary school, the term "tertiary education" refers to institutes of higher learning, or what is generally considered university level elsewhere. Therefore, plain figures for tertiary level enrollment are not internationally comparable. The tertiary level is divided into university and higher vocational school (ammattikorkeakoulu) systems, whose diplomas are not mutually interchangeable. Only universities award licentiates and doctorates. Traditionally only university graduates may obtain higher (postgraduate) degrees. The Bologna process has resulted in some restructuring, where vocational degree holders can qualify for further studies by doing additional courses. There are 20 universities and 30 polytechnics in the country. The Education Index, published with the UN's Human Development Index in 2008, based on data from 2006, lists Finland as 0.993, amongst the highest in the world, tied for first with Denmark, Australia and New Zealand.[1]

Contents

1 Primary education 2 Secondary education 3 Tertiary education 4 Adult education 5 Future prospects

5.1 Higher Education system restructuring

6 See also 7 References 8 External links

Education in FinlandFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search This article needs additional citations for verification.Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2010)

Education in Finland

Ministry of Education Minister of Education Minister of Culture Henna Virkkunen Stefan Wallin

National education budget (2003) Budget: 5.9 billion (1100 per capita)