EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM AND TEACHER EDUCATION IN FINLAND

Heidi KrzywackiSanna Patrikainen

Faculty of Education

Department of Teacher Education

FINLAND

5 millions inhabitantLanguages: Finnish, Swedish, SamiHistorical overview

Finland was incorporated into Sweden during the Crusades of the 12th century.In 1809, Finland became an autonomous Grand Duchy of Russia for hundred years.Finland became independent in the final stages of the First World War in 1917.

EDUCATIONAL POLICY DEFINITIONS

A central objective of the Finnish education policy is to provide all citizens with equal opportunities to receiveeducation.

regional accessibility of educationequal opportunities to education for both languagegroups, Finnish and Swedishno separation of the sexesinstruction free of chargeState’s financial aid scheme for students

ADMINISTRATION

The broad national objectives and the allocation of teaching time to instructions in different subjects are decided by the Government.

The National Board of Education decides on the objectives and core contents of instructions by confirming the core curriculum.

Based on these, each provider of education prepares the local basic education curriculum.

In Finland, each local authority is obligated to provide basic education for all children living within the municipality.

CURRICULUM

National Framework Curriculum (1994)determines the national objectives and guidelines for instruction and main contents in all school subjectsis based on the basic ideas of constructivist theories

The schools’ own curriculaschools are required to develop their own visions, goals and strategic actions within the nationally determined guidelines and goals

Reform of National Framework Curriculum (2000-2006)socio-constructivist concept of learningcontents are determined more specific

THE STRUCTURE OF THE FINNISH EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

Pre-School Education

Basic Education

Upper Secondary EducationGeneral UpperSecondaryVocational Education

Higher EducationUniversity EducationPolytechnic Education

PRE-SCHOOL EDUCATION

is intended for six-year-olds, who will start their compulsory education in the following yearparticipation is voluntary, some 90% of all six-year-olds participate is provided mainly in day care centres but also in pre-school classes operating in connection with comprehensive schoolkindergarten teachersfocus is on play and a positive outlook on life

BASIC EDUCATION

means the general education provided for each age group in its entiretyis intended for children from 7-16 years of agecomprehensive school lasts 9 years (with voluntary 10th form)during the first 6 years, instruction is given by the class teacher, who teaches most subjectsin the 3 highest forms, different subjects are taught by subject teachers

BASIC EDUCATION

The objective is to support pupils’ growth towards humanity and ethically responsible membership of society, and to provide them with the knowledge and skills necessary in life.

Features of basic education:no admission requirementsno chargesinstruction arranged in schools near the homeprovides eligibility for all upper secondary educationevery Finnish citizen is required to complete this education

UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION- GENERAL UPPER SECONDARY

offers general education for students of about 16-19 years of agemore than half of each age group complete upper secondary schoolsyllabus planned for 3 years, possible to finish in 2-4 yearsends with the matriculation examinationgives eligibility for all studies at the tertiary level

UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION- VOCATIONAL EDUCATION

instruction is given in multi-field or specialised vocational institutions in almost all fields of working lifecompletion takes 2-3 yearsprimarily aim at the acquisition of the vocational skills necessary in working lifein addition, the three-year programmes give general eligibility for further studies at universities and other institutions of higher education

HIGHER EDUCATION- UNIVERSITY EDUCATION

characterised by scientific research and the highest education based on it

a student place for about one third of the age group

academic degrees:Bachelor’s degree (3 years)Master’s degree (5 years)

scientific postgraduate degrees:the licentiatethe doctorate

HIGHER EDUCATION- POLYTECHNIC EDUCATION

oriented towards working life and base their operations on the high vocational skill requirements set by it

provide vocational higher education in multi-field environment

the completion of a polytechnic degree takes 3,5-4,5 years

UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKIwas established in Turku in 1640 and was transferred to Helsinki in 1828about 38 000 degree students

including 1 218 foreign studentsabout 7 300 staffthe University is bilingual

6,5% of students are Swedish-speaking9 faculties

Theology, Law, Medicine, Arts, Science, Education, Social

Sciences, Agriculture and Forestry, Veterinary Medicine

FACULTY OF EDUCATION

Department of Education

Department of Teacher Education

Department of Home Economics and Craft Sciences

Faculty of Behavioural Sciences willbe established from the beginning of 2004

The present Faculty of Education

Department of Psychology

Department of Phonetics

DEPARTMENT OF TEACHER EDUCATION

The department is divided in foursections

Kindergarten Teacher and EarlyChildhood Education

Primary School Teacher Education

Special Needs Education

Subject Teacher Education

TASKS OF THE TEACHER EDUCATION

The main task of the Department of Teacher Education is to produceeducational knowledge and educateteachers for all educational levels fromkindergartens to adult education.

Other important tasks are the domainspecific research and experimentalactivities.

The main emphasis in teacher education is on the systematic study of education.

KINDERGARTEN TEACHER AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

was integrated to the Department of Teacher Education in 1995

Students complete the Bachelor’s degree(240 ECTS credits)

General studies (20 credits)Early childhood education as a main subject, including Bachelor’sthesis (70 credits)Minor subject studies (130 credits)Optional studies (20 credits)

CLASS TEACHER EDUCATION

was integrated to the Department of Teacher Education in 1974Students complete the Master’s degree (320 ECTS credits)

General studies (22 credits)Education or educational psychology as a main subject (150 credits)

teaching practice (30 credits)Master’s thesis (42 credits)

Minor subject studies (130 credits)multidisciplinary studies in subjects

Optional studies (8-18 credits)

SUBJECT TEACHER EDUCATION

Students complete the Master’s degree(320 ECTS credits)

a degree in the respective faculties,a school subject as a major

Master’s thesis

Pedagogical studies (70 ECTS credits)

Studies in education are specific for the subject matter domain.

SUBJECT TEACHER EDUCATION

Pedagogical studies at the Departmentof Teacher Education

Philosophical, psychological and social basis of teaching and learning (20 credits)

Theoretical and practical basis of teaching (30 credits)

Research methods in subjectdidactics (14 credits)

TEACHING PRACTICE

starting from the very beginning of the studies

interaction between practice and theory

every practice period has aims of its own

from small units to larger combinations

is done mainly in Teacher Trainingschools

RESEARCH-BASED APPROACH

research-based approach is integratedto every course within the program

continuous courses of research methodsoverall competence of researchmethods

Master’s thesisdirect access to doctoral studies

Teacher is seen as a practitionerresearcher (reflective teaching)

POSTGRADUATE DEGREES

Licentiate of Arts (Education)Doctor of Philosophy (Education)

Consist ofadvanced studies in major subject(compeleted before)postgraduate studies in major subject(40 ECTS credits)other advanced studies (40 ECTS credits)

subject or professional specialisationstudies

Doctoral Thesis ( Licentiate Thesis)(240 ECTS credits)