Core Curricula and Qualification Requirements
In this section, you can find information and documentation on the national core curricula and qualification requirements for different school levels.
Pre-School Education
The national core curriculum for pre-primary education is drawn up by the Finnish National Board of Education. It is a norm which obliges the municipalities to design their own curricula for pre-primary education both in the daycare centres and the schools. The basic principle in defining the local or school-based curricula is that as many people who are involved in the education of children, in the school or day-care setting, such as class teachers and kindergarten teachers, special needs teachers, and multi-professional partners, and guardians in the home setting, should take part in the process of defining the curriculum. Furthermore, the municipal officials responsible for social and welfare services are to be involved in the curriculum work.
The key subject fields in pre-primary education include language and interaction, mathematics, ethics and philosophy, nature and the environment, health, physical and motor development as well as art and culture.
National Core Curriculum for Pre-School Education
Basic Education
The national core curriculum is determined by the Finnish National Board of Education. It includes the objectives and core contents of different subjects, as well as the principles of pupil assessment, special-needs education, pupil welfare and educational guidance. The principles of a good learning environment, working approaches as well as the concept of learning are also addressed in the core curriculum. The present national core curriculum for basic education was confirmed in January 2004 and it was introduced in schools in August 2006.
The education providers, usually the local education authorities and the schools themselves draw up their own curricula for pre-primary and basic education within the framework of the national core curriculum. These curricula may be prepared for individual municipalities or institutions or include both sections.
National Core Curriculum for Basic Education
General Upper Secondary Education
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). 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.
Local 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 order to arrange the schoolwork in each school year, there is an overall school schedule, which is based on the curriculum.
National Core Curriculum for General Upper Secondary Education
Vocational Education and Training
The curriculum system of vocational education and training consists of the national core curricula, each education provider's locally approved curricula and the students' personal study plans.
The Finnish National Board of Education decides on the national core curriculum for each vocational qualification, determining the composition of studies and objectives, core contents and assessment criteria for study modules. It also includes provisions on student assessment, student counselling, on-the-job learning, special education and training, educational arrangements for immigrants and apprenticeship training. The content of local curricula is defined in the national core curriculum as well. The provisions are common to all vocational qualifications.
The national core curricula are drawn up by the Finnish National Board of Education in co-operation with employers' organisations, trade unions, the Trade Union of Education and student unions. They are dealt with by Training Committees, which are tripartite bodies established for each occupational field by the Ministry of Education and Culture for a term of three years at a time to plan and develop vocational education and training. Local curricula and students' personal study plans must follow the relevant national core curriculum. Local tripartite bodies as well as other representatives of working life take part in the curriculum work as advisers and consultants. Local curricula are approved by the boards of education providers.
National Core Curricula and Qualification Requirements for Vocational Education and Training