Organisation of the education system in Finland 2009/2010 FI European Commission EURYBASE FINLAND 1. POLITICAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC BACKGROUND AND TRENDS.............................................................. 7 1.1. Historical Overview.................................................................................................................................. 7 1.2. Main Executive and Legislative Bodies ................................................................................................... 8 1.3. Religions................................................................................................................................................. 10 1.4. Official and Minority Languages ........................................................................................................... 10 1.5. Demographic Situation ......................................................................................................................... 10 1.6. Economic Situation................................................................................................................................ 11 1.7. Statistics ................................................................................................................................................. 11 2. GENERAL ORGANISATION OF THE EDUCATION SYSTEM AND ADMINISTRATION OF EDUCATION........... 17 2.1. Historical Overview................................................................................................................................ 17 2.2. Ongoing Debates and Future Developments....................................................................................... 18 2.3. Fundamental Principles and Basic Legislation...................................................................................... 18 2.4. General Structure and Defining Moments in Educational Guidance................................................... 20 2.5. Compulsory Education .......................................................................................................................... 22 2.6. General Administration ......................................................................................................................... 23 2.6.1. National Level ................................................................................................................................. 23 2.6.2. Regional Level................................................................................................................................. 25 2.6.3. Local Level....................................................................................................................................... 25 2.6.4. Educational Institutions, Administration, Management................................................................ 27 2.7. Internal and External Consultation between Levels of Education ....................................................... 30 2.7.1. Internal Consultation ...................................................................................................................... 30 2.7.2. Consultation Involving Players in Society at Large........................................................................ 31 2.8. Methods of Financing Education .......................................................................................................... 34 2.8.1. Pre-primary Level............................................................................................................................ 34 2.8.2. Basic Education and General Upper Secondary Level ................................................................... 34 2.8.3. Vocational Upper Secondary Level ................................................................................................ 35 2.8.4. Higher Education Level................................................................................................................... 36 2.8.5. Adult Education and Training......................................................................................................... 37 2.9. Statistics ................................................................................................................................................. 40 3. PRE-PRIMARY EDUCATION ........................................................................................................................... 42 3.1. Historical Overview................................................................................................................................ 43 3.2. Ongoing Debates and Future Developments....................................................................................... 44 3.3. Specific Legislative Framework ............................................................................................................. 45 3.4. General objectives ................................................................................................................................. 45 3.5. Geographical Accessibility..................................................................................................................... 46 3.6. Admission Requirements and Choice of Institution/Centre ................................................................ 46 3.7. Financial Support for Pupils’ Families ................................................................................................... 47 3.8. Age Levels and Grouping of Children ................................................................................................... 47 3.9. Organisation of Time ............................................................................................................................. 48 3.9.1. School Year...................................................................................................................................... 48 3.9.2. Weekly and Daily Timetable ........................................................................................................... 48 3.10. Curriculum, Types of Activity, Number of Hours ................................................................................ 48 3.11. Teaching Methods and Materials........................................................................................................ 49 3.12. Evaluation of Children ......................................................................................................................... 49 3.13. Support Facilities ................................................................................................................................. 50 3.14. Private Sector Provisions ..................................................................................................................... 50 3.14.1. Historical overview........................................................................................................................ 51 3.14.2. Ongoing Debates and Future Development ............................................................................... 51 3.14.3. Specific legislative framework...................................................................................................... 51 3.15. Organisational Variations and Alternative Structures ........................................................................ 51 3.16. Statistics ............................................................................................................................................... 51 4. SINGLE STRUCTURE EDUCATION ................................................................................................................. 53 4.1. Historical Overview................................................................................................................................ 53 4.2. Ongoing Debates and Future Developments....................................................................................... 54 4.3. Specific Legislative Framework ............................................................................................................. 55 4.4. General Objectives................................................................................................................................. 56 4.5. Geographical Accessibility..................................................................................................................... 56 4.6. Admission Requirements and Choice of School................................................................................... 56 1 EURYBASE FINLAND 4.7. Financial Support for Pupils’ Families ................................................................................................... 57 4.8. Age Levels and Grouping of Pupils ....................................................................................................... 57 4.9. Organisation of School Time ................................................................................................................. 57 4.9.1. School Year in Basic Education....................................................................................................... 57 4.9.2. Weekly and Daily Timetable in Compulsory Basic Education........................................................ 58 4.10. Curriculum, Subjects, Number of Hours ............................................................................................. 58 4.10.1. The Syllabus of Basic Education ................................................................................................... 58 4.11. Teaching Methods and Materials.......................................................................................................