The Curriculum

The syllabus of upper secondary school contains mother tongue and literature (Finnish or Swedish), the other national language (Swedish or Finnish) and foreign languages, studies in mathematics and natural sciences, studies in the humanities and social sciences, religion or ethics, physical and health education, as well as arts and practical subjects. In addition, the syllabus may include either partially or entirely optional or elective subjects, such as vocational studies and other studies suitable to upper secondary schools task in accordance with the provisions of the curriculum. Students must also receive student counselling.

The Government decides on the general national objectives of general upper secondary education and on the allocation of the time to be used for instruction in different subjects and subject groups and for student counselling "time allocation".

The Finnish National Board of Education decides on the objectives and core contents of the different subjects, subject groups, thematic subject modules and student counselling (national core curriculum).

National Core Curriculum for Upper Secondary Schools 2003

The National Core Curriculum for Upper Secondary Schools was reformed in 2003 and the local curricula based on the new national core curriculum came into effect on 1 August 2005.The curricula are to be drawn up so as to provide students with an opportunity for individual choices of studies, including instruction given by other education providers, where necessary.

In the Government Decision governing time allocation for upper secondary schools, upper secondary school studies are divided into compulsory, specialisation and applied courses. Each student must complete the compulsory courses. The specialisation courses are primarily follow-up courses directly connected with the compulsory courses, and the schools must provide them for the students to choose their options. The applied courses are integrative courses, including elements from various subjects, methodological courses, or other school-specific courses. These courses can also be vocational or other studies that comply with the special educational task given to the school and are provided by either by the education provider or other educational institutions. The provider of general upper secondary education decides on the inclusion of applied courses in the curriculum and they are elective for students.

National Core Curriculum for Upper Secondary Schools 2003

The following table outlines the distribution of lesson hours in youth general upper secondary education. The average scope of one course is 38 lessons. Consequently, in order to reach the number of lessons, the number of courses on the time allocation table should be multiplied by 38. The duration of a lesson must be at least 45 minutes.

(1) The distribution of lesson hours in youth education shall be the following:

(2) In addition to the compulsory and specialisation courses determined in the distribution of lesson hours, there may be specialisation and applied courses determined by the education APPENDIX 256 provider. Over and above classroom hours, educational and vocational guidance shall provide other guidance for the student.

(3) The student may study more than one A-language. If the second national language is studied in accordance with the A-language syllabus, the number of compulsory courses shall be six.

(4) A student whose native language is Sámi, Romany or a foreign language may be taught mother tongue and literature according to the syllabus of Finnish/Swedish as a second language.

(5) If a student whose native language is Sámi, Romany or a foreign language is taught his/her own mother tongue, the aggregate number of compulsory courses in mother tongue and literature and other languages and the total number of compulsory courses may be smaller than that enacted in subsection 1. In this case, the second national language shall be studied as an optional subject.

(6) If a student whose native language is a foreign language is taught the Finnish or Swedish language according to the Finnish/Swedish as a second language syllabus, the lesson hours in mother tongue and literature and in the second national language may be allocated to the teaching of these subjects at the discretion of the education provider.