Photo: Riitta Supperi/Keksi/OKM/Finland Promotion Board
Finland’s high level of education and competence is based on applicants for their programmes. high-quality teacher education. The profession of a teacher Higher education institutions decide is regulated, and the qualifications required from teachers on student admissions and admission criteria independently. Entrance tests of are defined in legislation. universities are used to assess aspects such as academic studying skills and The statutes in question list the studies, slightly more than a half. The majority of aptitude for the profession. In the qualifications and work experience teachers are employed by municipalities. admissions process for professional established as qualification requirements teacher education, the areas assessed for different teaching posts. In Finland, Higher education institutions include competence and expertise in the majority of teachers (some 88%) decide on student admissions and the specific field of teaching, to be fulfil the requirements set for their the contents of the education demonstrated through work experience position. The Finnish National Board of themselves and qualifications. Education issues decisions concerning In Finland, teachers are required to have In Finland, higher education the recognition of foreign teaching a master’s degree with the exception institutions decide independently on the qualifications in Finland. of kindergarten contents of teacher teachers, whose education. The link Predominantly female qualification Higher education between teaching and profession requirements institutions decide research is emphasised Approximately 63,500 teachers work in include a in the education. The basic education and the upper secondary bachelor’s degree. independently on objective is to produce level (general upper secondary school and In Finland, teacher the contents of teachers with a research- vocational education and training) and education is a orientation in their work in liberal adult education. The majority popular field teacher education. who are capable of of teachers are women. Out of teachers of study, and independent problem- working in basic education, more than higher education solving and have the 70% are women; the corresponding figure institutions are in a position to select the capacity to utilise the most recent for vocational education and training is most well-suited and the most motivated research in the fields of education and
Ministry of Education and Culture | Teacher education in Finland | 11/2016 the subjects taught. Using these skills, the subject and learn to develop the work teacher education. In Finland, no national teacher is able to independently develop community in cooperation with other evaluation or registration of teachers both him or herself as a teacher and his or members of teaching staff. takes place. her work community in cooperation with the rest of the staff of the educational Teacher education is developed Regular in-service education institution. constantly The work performed by teachers is Teacher education offered at The qualitative and quantitative demanding and requires regular in- universities provides the student with development needs of teacher service education and the opportunity capabilities for acting independently as a education are explored regularly for further education. The parties teacher, instructor and educator. The ob- through various evaluations, forecasts responsible for the in-service education jective of professional teacher education and data collection. of teaching staff are the teachers is to provide the student with the skills Focus points in developing the themselves and their employers, most and knowledge to guide the learning of content of teacher education include commonly municipalities. The employer different students and the capabilities to the teaching and guidance of students is responsible for education based on the develop his or her field of teaching taking requiring a greater level of support, the collective agreement for public servants; into account developments in the world development of learning environments, the minimum duration of this education of work and different professions. the utilisation of information and is three working days outside of school All teacher education also involves communication technology, issues related days per academic year. pedagogical studies and guided teaching to a multicultural society, cooperation In addition to the employer, also practice, which is implemented in the between school and home and the Ministry of Education and Culture universities’ own schools for teaching cooperation with the world of work. supports the in-service education practice or other schools nominated for of teachers. The objective of state- the purpose. Guided teaching practice The work of teachers is very financed in-service education is to involves the giving of lessons, guidance independent provide principals and teachers with discussions and familiarisation with In Finland, teachers have many equal opportunities to develop their tasks and responsibilities related to professional freedoms and opportunities competence. various issues arising in the everyday to impact their work and the life of schools. The aim is for students development of their work community. in teacher education to become Teachers have the power to decide independent and responsible teachers which teaching methods and learning and learn self-development, become materials they want to use. The Finnish increasingly proficient in their own system is based on trust in teachers and
Ministry of Education and Culture | Teacher education in Finland | 11/2016