Education

The OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which evaluates the educational achievement of children of school age in the OECD countries, has placed Finland among the top countries, and Finland has maintained this status from year to year.

 

The education system begins with pre-school teaching leading to entry to comprehensive school at age seven. This continues until the ninth grade, after which students pursue vocational or secondary education. Upper secondary schools take the students through to the age of 18 or 19, after which they can go to a University or Polytechnic.

 

The University tradition dates back to 1640, when the Royal Academy of Turku was founded (Finland was then under the Swedish crown). Today there are 20 universities in Finland, mostly State owned and funded. Students do not have to pay study fees. After higher education is the option of adult education, and there is an excellent structure of evening schools and vocational training and re-training for mature students across the country. This has been given a high priority in the last few decades.