Education in foreign languages in the Helsinki area
Finnish education system in a nutshell
Pre-school and basic education
The Finnish education system is based on providing all children and young people with equal basic education services. In Finland, education is compulsory, starting from the year in which the child becomes 7 years old and ending when he/she is 16. The compulsory education also applies to foreign nationals permanently resident in Finland.
Both municipal and private day-care services are available for children below school-starting age, up to the age of six. All 6-year-olds are entitled to pre-school education for one year before starting basic education. Pre-school education is available in both schools and day-care centres.
Pupils normally start their comprehensive school education in a local school indicated by the city. The Metropolitan Area also has contract schools that have an agreement with the city, private schools and state-operated schools to which pupils may seek admission.
The comprehensive school is intended for pupils between 7 and 15 years. The school can also be smaller and only have, for example, the primary school level grades 1 - 6 for children between 7 and 12 years or lower secondary school grades 7 - 9 for children between 12 and 15 years. Each school's operations are guided by its own curriculum. The curricula of different comprehensive schools may have differing focuses on education.
A pupils support system has been created with the pupils wellbeing in mind. It provides school social worker and psychologist services, for example.
Schools and different associations organise afternoon activities for 1st- and 2nd-graders at schools, day-care centres and parish premises. Parents can also organise activities for their children at the school premises, for example through the actions of a parents association.
Upper secondary schools and vocational schools
Having completed comprehensive school, young people may seek further education in upper secondary schools or vocational schools. If their skills are not quite up to the standard required by further education, they can supplement their knowledge and improve on the school-leaving certificate marks by enrolling in supplementary education in the so-called 10th grade.
The upper secondary schools in the Metropolitan Area are either operated by municipalities, the state or private entities. Some upper secondary schools specialize in education with an emphasis on music, physical education, the fine arts, languages or the natural sciences, for example.
Upper secondary schools are intended for students between 15 and 18 years. The schools have no grades. The idea is to complete the courses in three years. The upper secondary school-leaving certificate qualifies the student for studies in universities and other university-level institutes. Matriculation examinations are arranged twice a year, in the spring and in the autumn.
Vocational schools provide vocational qualifications. The studies take three years. Practical training is part of vocational school education. In addition to written exams, professional skills must be demonstrated in practice. Completing vocational education qualifies the student to seek admission to polytechnics or universities.
Upper secondary schools and vocational schools work in co-operation. In some schools, it is possible to complete a vocational degree and the upper secondary school curriculum at the same time. Upper secondary schools for adults also provide an opportunity to take the matriculation examination and to supplement the upper secondary school curriculum.
Finland also operates an apprenticeship training system. Young people already in working life can obtain basic vocational qualifications through apprenticeship training.
Universities
Finland has two types of higher education institutes, universities and polytechnics. The universities concentrate on academic and scientific research and teaching methods. The universities allow students to take Bachelors, Masters, Licentiates or Doctors degrees. It usually takes three years to take a Bachelor's degree and five years to take a Master's degree.
The role of polytechnics is to respond to the needs of working life. The education focuses on developing professional skills. Polytechnic education can normally be completed in 3½ to 4 years.
Higher-level education is provided free of charge in Finland.
More information is available at the websites of the Ministry of Education and the Finnish National Board of Education.
Text: City of Helsinki Education Department
Photo: City of Helsinki Picture Bank
