Mapping the Finnish Education system: A quick overview from Early Childhood to Higher Education

Education has evolved significantly since my time in school. Naturally, being in a foreign country where I didn't receive primary education adds an extra layer of confusion to understanding my child’s schooling experience. However, I'm taking it one step at a time, learning about the current and upcoming stages. Along the way, I've gained insights from my experience, as well as from conversations with friends that I will share in this blog post. Plus, I'll be sharing some basic Finnish terminology that can come in handy.

In some countries, it's common to send your child to daycare as early as four months old, but it can be quite a shock for those of us who live in Finland where maternity leave is more generous. When I was pregnant, I spoke with several daycares and found out that most of them don't accept children under eight months old. In Finland, it's rare to find children younger than 14 months old attending daycare. Also, if you're planning to apply for daycare (päiväkoti), keep in mind that it normally takes four months (the maximum legal time to grant a place) from the application date to get a spot, as there is usually high demand.

Unlike daycare, preschool (eskari) is compulsory and guaranteed to your child. This means that you don't have to worry about waiting lists or availability if you move to a new city in the middle of a school year. Preschool is only one year before starting primary school and is available in both daycares and schools. While most European countries start school at age six, Finland starts a year later, which I personally think is a great idea. However, there is a pilot program in place to potentially change this in the future. Preschool can be taught in daycares or schools, for municipal preschools is the last year at the daycare. If you're looking for an entrance door to a specific school, keep in mind that some state schools offer preschool programs. Additionally, if you're a working parent, it's worth noting that daycare services (including during preschool) are available year-round, with no breaks during summer or Christmas holidays. This can be incredibly practical for parents who need childcare year-round.

I want to share some information about starting school in Finland, even though my own child is starting after the summer and I'm still learning myself. I mentioned in a previous post some issues regarding access to school, but there's another important aspect I want to highlight: LEOPs. LEOPs is a  document filled out by the preschool teacher and parents, and then sent to the schools when applying. It is essential because it outlines any special needs your child may have. I wish I had known about this earlier, as I initially thought the meeting with the teacher was just a standard check-in and didn't take it too seriously. In fact, the meeting was conducted in Finnish, and I only had a vague idea of what was going on. So, if your child has any special needs or requirements, it's crucial to discuss them with the preschool teacher and ensure they're documented in the LEOPs. This way, you can make sure your child's needs are met when starting school, and they receive the support they need to.

The education system in Finland actively promotes fostering independence from an early age. I often joke that in Finland, kids don't receive a driver's licence upon starting school because they can't reach the pedals yet. It's important to note that classes can end as early as noon, and it's expected that even a six or seven-year-old child can safely walk home or hop on public transport alone. Moreover, it's perfectly acceptable for a child to spend the afternoon alone upon arriving home. However, it's worth noting that most first and second graders participate in afternoon activities (iltatoiminta) which must be booked and paid for separately. Parents are guaranteed a spot for their first-graders (and probably second-graders too) as long as they apply in time. Unfortunately, after the Christmas break at the start of 2023, there was some turbulence with these afternoon activities in Helsinki. The staff from some centres was transferred to daycares, and some places closed down with hardly any notice to parents.

I plan to write a blog post on matters that are relevant to children from non-Finnish speaking households. In the meantime, it's important to be aware of whether your child has been assigned to the S2-track and that they have the opportunity to take classes in one or more of their mother languages or languages spoken at home. Keep in mind that if your child is assigned to the S2-track, it means that they are not considered to have Finnish as a native language. 

As my knowledge of the Finnish school system is still developing, let me share with you some of the basics that I have learned so far. Children in Finland typically begin their education in municipal comprehensive schools, where the first six grades are part of the "Ala-aste" (or "alakoulu"), and grades 7-9 are part of the "Ylä-aste" (or "yläkoulu"). While there is little homework and exams during the first six years of schooling, this changes once children reach 7th grade, as grades become important and competitive in determining future educational opportunities. In an upcoming post, I will also delve into the topic of reinforced programs at municipal schools, which I touched upon briefly in my previous post about types of schools.

After 9th grade, education is still compulsory and it’s either high school (lukio) or vocational studies (ammatikoulu). Students must apply to an individual school using their grade point average (GPA) from grades 7-9. General upper secondary schools often offer a specialised interest track that requires a higher GPA - such as music, language, sports, etc. It is competitive to get into certain schools that have a known reputation for the higher GPA. Although there is no official ranking system in Finnish schools at the high school level, there is certainly an informal knowledge base of which schools are “better” to attend. A child might not get enough good grades to access high school and be “forced” to go to vocational studies. Like in many countries, vocational studies are perceived as the place you go if you are not a good student. This is a pity; it gives a bad reputation to really wonderful programmes.

If a child really wants to go to high school, there are two interesting options. One is 10th grade. Surprise! There is the possibility to do one more year in school to get better grades. It is very smart to organise it this way. 10th grade is not repeating 9th grade; it is brilliant because students that really want to focus can prepare to access high school without having to repeat a grade with the risk of being bored at the beginning. Students who decide to do 10th grade often do quite well; it helps especially those who need a bit more time to mature. The other option is to do double studies in the vocational programmes. So, a student can graduate from high school at a vocational school.

From what I understand, it typically takes three years to complete high rather than two. Upon graduation, students receive the iconic white caps that they wear during the Vappu celebrations when they visit Havis Amanda. If you're not familiar with this tradition, you're likely not living in Finland. However, this is not particularly relevant to the topic at hand, which has been a general overview aimed at helping get a better understanding of the school path in Finland.

I strongly urge parents to communicate with their child's school and make an effort to comprehend the Finnish education system. I experienced frustration when I learned that my stepchild's grades were not adequate for high school. Although vocational studies were a suitable alternative, it was concerning that her academic struggles were only revealed in 9th grade (at age fifteen). To make matters worse, she was diagnosed with dyslexia at the age of seventeen, only after we had taken her to a private psychologist for testing. I remember the relief on her face when she asked, "So, if I have dyslexia, does this mean I’m not stupid?" Trusting that the system would identify these issues was clearly not enough. I do not believe that the system is inherently flawed - on the contrary, I have heard many positive experiences and believe it is an excellent education system. However, as a parent, it is important to be informed, involved, and to understand the system to ensure that your child does not miss any opportunities and receives appropriate support when needed. It is natural to care for your child, and parents are the natural allies of teachers and educators. Therefore, by familiarising oneself with the system, we can better support all students in our community.