Finnish Education

Mike and I both study at Haaga-Helia, a University of Applied Sciences in Finland. Both of us came here after graduating high school in our own countries (Germany and Italy). Today I looked at what the Finnish education system is like.

In Finland the education begins with the “early childhood education and care”, the kindergarten. This institution is not compulsory and can be attended between 0 and 6 years.

“In kindergarten we mainly played, sang songs and did some arts. Another thing that is special about Finnish kindergartens is, that we are outside a lot. No matter if it´s sunny or if it´s snowing, we just put on a coat and play outside”, Salli from sallimatkalla.com told me.

At the age of six, the compulsory studies begin with the pre-primary education. This stage is preparing kids to start to study.

“In that time, we learned the alphabet and one thing I remember is that we learned how to tie shoe laces and how to peal potatoes. The teachers told us that in school no one would help us with these things anymore.”

After that, nine years of basic education follow in which the 7 to 19-year-olds attend comprehensive schools. During this time every student needs to study some Swedish. Further, this time is also divided into Ala-Aste (grades 1-6) and Yläaste (grades 7-9), during which the students can already choose some of their subjects and attend advanced studies courses. Whilst all education is free in Finland, children additionally receive free school lunches during their basic education. In Finland less than two percent of comprehensive school pupil attend a private school.

At the age of 16 years, students can decide for the first time how they want to continue their studies. Their two options are to either attend a general upper secondary school or a vocational institution, both taking three years. The general upper secondary school is like the high school in other countries, where the students continue to study a variety of different subjects. In vocational school the students specialise one specific field, like education, technology, natural sciences, social sciences, service industry, etc. It is also possible to do a mix of both schools where you study for about four years and you graduate with the diploma from the general upper secondary school, but also have the experience from vocational school.

“I went to Lukio (general upper secondary school) because at that point I didn´t know what I want to do. So, Lukio is a safe option cause after that you can be anything, you are not specified for any job. But, after Lukio I knew that I wanted to go to the restaurant business so then I went to do vocational school to be a waitress and I really enjoyed it, because we really studied those things that I need in that job. If you know what you want to do vocational school is great. But doing both, Lukio and vocational school is not common.”

When graduating from general upper secondary school or vocational institution, students are eligible universities and Universities of Applied Sciences. At universities the students’ study for three years as undergraduates to receive their bachelor´s degree, then they can continue for two years to specialise and get their master and afterwards have the possibility to do

their PhD. The other possibility is to study a bachelor's degree at a University of Applied Sciences for three years after which the student can continue with their master’s studies at a scientific university or they get work experience for at least two years, after which they can pursue their Master´s degree at a University of Applied Sciences. Of course, it is also possible to do your bachelors at a university and then continue with your masters at a UAS, as well as getting your PhD at a scientific university after your master’s studies at a UAS.

Something Finland is very proud of is that they offer equal opportunities for education for all. So that for example the Sami can study their whole education in their own language. Further, Finnish teachers are highly educated and only a few get to study to become teachers. This however, also ends in a teacher shortage at points. Finally, I would like to mention the topic of homework in Finland. Finnish students do get some homework, but it is not as much as in most of other European countries. This time can be used by the students to do their hobbies etc., and some research shows that this free time helps Finland to become one of the happiest countries in the world.

-Lotte

“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.”

-Malcom X

https://minedu.fi/en/education-system