Educational System in Finland
The goal for Finnish education system is to give all the citizens equal opportunities. Everyone has the right to basic education and to prevent economical disadvantages it is free for everyone.
Since Finland is a bi-lingual country, there is no discrimination either for this matter; in fact both Finnish-speaking and Swedish-speaking population has the right to education in their own mother tongue.
One of the main objectives of this country is to achieve a high level of education for the whole population, and this is why after compulsory education, there is a rich offer for all the ages.
In Finland compulsory education starts when children are 7 years old, but from the year before they can join pre-primary education. The aim of this year of “pre-studying” is to develop learning skills, self-image of the kid and to acquire basic skills appropriate for the age. Basic compulsory education is a 9 years long cycle and the goal is to promote basic knowledge and skills needed in life, but also develop their sense of belonging and responsibility in society. The education and material is free and the assessment system is verbal. After the basic compulsory education is completed in theory is possible to join the working life, even if it is not advised. Usually students join upper secondary school or vocational training. There is also the possibility of attending an additional voluntary basic education year (the 10th grade).
A child attends Upper Secondary Education at age range of 16-19 and it lasts 3 years. The main aim of this educational cycle is to provide students with suitable capabilities to continue their studies further, but also promote student’s sense as individual and member of a community. The education is free of charge, but students need to pay for the material. Upper Secondary education can be General or Vocational.
At the end of the Upper secondary education cycle students take the national matriculation examination with the purpose to determinate if they acquired skills and knowledge content of the curriculum. and enable them to continue further their academic career.
In Finland there are two kinds of higher education institutes, Universities and Universities of Applied Sciences, there the first ones are more “theorical” while the seconds are more orientated to the labor market.
