As an occasional thing, we thought we might look at educational systems in other countries as a way of comparing and contrasting with the overall system in Australia.

Having covered the system in Germany, we thought we would add the education system applied in Finland. It is one of the most cited systems in world education, this being based on results achieved in international testing such as PISA. There seems to be a continual stream of visitors from around the world looking at the system.

‘The Finnish education system is composed of nine-year basic education [comprehensive school - Peruskoulu/grundskola], preceded by one year of voluntary pre-primary education; upper secondary education, comprising vocational and general education; and higher education, provided by universities and polytechnics. Adult education is available at all levels’.

‘Students’ opportunities to progress from one level of education to the next is safeguarded by legislation. Both general and vocational upper secondary certificates provide eligibility for further studies in universities and polytechnics. A student completing one level is always eligible for the next level studies. The qualifications of each level are governed by a separate Act of Parliament. This assures harmonised qualifications and their quality and guarantees students’ rights’.

‘Basic education is free general education provided for the whole age group. Upper secondary education consists of general education and vocational education and training [vocational qualifications and further and specialist qualifications]’.

‘The higher education system comprises universities and polytechnics, in which the admission requirement is a secondary general or vocational diploma. Universities, which are academic or artistic institutions, focus on research and education based on research. They confer Bachelor’s, Master’s, licentiate and doctoral degrees. Polytechnics offer work-related education in response to labour market needs. A polytechnic degree requires 3.5 - 4.5 years of full-time study. The requirement for polytechnic Master’s programmes is a polytechnic degree or equivalent, plus a minimum of three years of work experience in the field concerned’.

‘Adult education is provided at all levels of education. Adults can study for a general education certificate or for a vocational qualification, or modules included in them, take other courses developing citizenship and work skills, or pursue recreational studies’.
[Finnish Ministry of Education & Culture]

Students study at school from the age of 7 to 16 in the comprehensive schools, with 6 years of primary and 3 years of Junior Secondary. Further details can be found in a Brochure available from the above site.

Another interesting site which covers the system in point form and provides some very specific information can be found at EuroEducation.net. Scroll down past the first section to the information on the Structure of the Educational System.

‘Why do Finland‘s schools get the best results ?’ is a report from BBC America, containing two videos and other information. This can be accessed through the following BBC link. Additional material on all aspects of the Finnish system can also be found at this Wikipedia Link.

If you were looking to draw worthwhile ideas from another system [though using a complete system structure would be ridiculous] then this would certainly be one of those you would want to consider. After all, why start anywhere but at the top ?.

With a Commonwealth election to occur later in August, it is important for people to review what is being said by all sides with respect to education and its importance or otherwise in the scheme of things. Some promises seem already to have been made. Decide whether you feel what is being said is valid, in the interest of education and in the nation’s best interests. While it should not be the only factor which may help decide the way you vote, do not let it become a forgotten factor. As somebody said - ‘If education is expensive, try ignorance’. [Reference in Video]

In the interests of time saving for people contacting Aussie Educator regarding advertisements, we do not place paid advertisements of any kind and you will be wasting your time asking about these. Nor do we include graphical links. We believe in a minimalist approach that supplies appropriate text links to information we believe may be of value to people interested in these areas. We do not plan any change to that policy. Please do not waste everyone‘s valuable time.

Updates

• Minor additions and modifications to several pages.
• Update of calendar for all of June to 2011 and July [to 20th] dates where known.

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