The Finnish school system supports lifelong learning.
In the early years of independence, it was already understood in Finland that education was the most important success factor for the nation.
Provisions were laid down in the 1919 Constitution on compulsory, free-of-charge basic education for all and on vocational training and academic educational institutions provided by public authorities.
Finnish children start comprehensive school at the age of seven. This instruction, which is free of charge for the entire age group, takes nine years.
Every Finn is covered by compulsory education up to the age of 17 or completion of comprehensive school. The child's home municipality provides the comprehensive school education, and the network of primary-level schools is dense. All basic education materials are free of charge for the children, and services include a free hot meal every day, school health care and free transport to school for children who live too far from the school to walk or use public transport.
For some years now, preparatory pre-school instruction has been provided for six-year-olds, covering most of the age groups.
Finland is a bilingual country, and instruction is provided equally in Finnish and in Swedish. Major cities have schools providing instruction in other languages, too, accessible to both Finnish and immigrant children.
It is also the duty of local authorities to provide instruction for young people and children who are unable to participate in ordinary comprehensive school instruction through illness or disability. Practically every Finnish child goes to school.
Vocational education
Approximately 50 per cent of each age group continue to upper secondary schools. Municipally provided upper secondary level instruction is also free of charge and includes a hot meal every school day. The course-based curriculum covering a great many optional subjects takes an average of three years and ends with the national matriculation exam. Matriculation provides a foundation for continuation of studies in institutions of higher education or vocational training institutes.
Apart from upper secondary schools, there is a three-year basic vocational education alternative comprising both general education subjects and vocational training instruction. Nearly all those who do not continue to upper secondary schools choose this line of study.
Basic vocational education can also be obtained through apprenticeship training, i.e. practical service in the field supported by theoretical instruction. Those who obtain a further vocational qualification can continue their studies in polytechnics or other institutions of higher education.
Higher education is divided between polytechnics and universities. Polytechnics provide education and training aiming at a high level of professional skill to meet the requirements of working life, while universities carry out scientific research and provide conventional academic instruction.
Higher education
The number of applicants to institutions of higher education greatly exceeds the numbers that can be accepted. Depending on the institution in question, student selection is based on examination certificates or a combination of examination certificates and entrance examinations. Finland's national strategy aims at offering a place in a polytechnic or university to two thirds of each age group.
In Finland, school education stretches over a long period of time; most people do not qualify for their professions before the age of 20, and a significant number of higher education students do not do so before the age of 25.
The goal is lifelong learning; there is plenty of further training opportunities supported by the public sector for adults already working in an occupation, and it is by no means a rare phenomenon for people to learn a new profession later in life.
All school levels are free of charge for the pupils. The government has provided funds for various social benefits for students relating to means of support, meals, housing and health care.
Local or central government predominantly owns educational institutions. With the exception of higher education, all school levels have a few private educational institutions that receive public funding if they meet the standards set by the authorities.
Thanks to its comprehensive, high-quality public-sector school system, Finland has no commercial training and education market in basic education, and at other levels and in other sectors, too, commercial provision is relatively small compared with many other western countries.
- Courtesy Virtual Finland/Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland
