Vocational Education and Training in Finland
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Education policy: Objectives and priorities
Finnish society is built on knowledge and creativity plus values such as equity, tolerance, gender equality, responsibility for the environment and internationalisation. Everyone has an equal right to participate in education according to ability and in keeping with the principle of lifelong learning.
The post-compulsory level is divided into general upper secondary education, and vocational education and training. After basic education (2005), about 95% of school-leavers continue their education: 54% will choose general upper secondary education, 38% vocational education and training and 3% will continue in additional voluntary basic education.
Finnish educational legislation has traditionally been detailed and targeted to the different types of educational providers. In the late 1990s, the reform of education legislation aimed to consolidate legislation into a general framework act with the focus on regulation of education instead of institutions. The legislation governing primary and secondary level education, and part of the legislation governing adult education, were reformed on 1 January 1999 to more uniform legislation (Act 630/1998 and Decree 811/1998 on Vocational Education; Act 631/1998 and Decree 812/1998 on Adult Vocational Education) concerning the objectives, contents and levels of education as well as students' rights and responsibilities.
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The challenges for vocational education and training are to meet the competence needs of individuals and working life and to provide capabilities for lifelong learning. As the labour force grows older, it is necessary to ensure that new competent people are available to replace those due to retire.
