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Finnish school teaches students independent, critical thinking and problem-solving skills. each other by their first name. Making the school environment comfortable and stimulating is more than just an afterthought. To balance the academic learning goals, school days also contain subjects focusing on skills and arts, and a variety of teaching methods encourage also those who don't find cramming the best way to learn. The free-of-charge, comprehensive schooling lasts nine years. School is compulsory for all Finnish citizens until the age of 17 or until they have completed comprehensive school. The comprehensive schooling is arranged by municipalities, and there is a high density of lower grade comprehensive schools, in particular. The comprehensive education and the educational materials are free for children, and the services also include a warm meal every day, school health care, and free transportation for those children whose commute between home and school is too long to walk or too difficult for public transportation. There are private schools, but they, too, are free for students and, for the most part, operate according to the national curricula. "An important factor is that the entire school community the students, teachers and parents have the same vision. It is clear to everyone that our best Finnish asset is our education. There is social consensus that if you want to succeed in life, you have to study" notes Anna Lötjönen. Adolescence is a challenging time, and all kinds of social phenomena are visible also in schools. Difficulties at home, social problems and so on have an impact on educating children and young people. "I think one of the strengths of Finnish schools is the fact that they, along with other social services, form a safety net that rescues students who are struggling. In communities with social difficulties, a school is a resource preventing social isolation, encouraging advancement, and offering a road to social growth," Heikki Alastalo sums up. Education and educational materials are free and include a mix of skills and arts that serve to balance the comprehensive academic studies. Free learning for life About half of each age group continues on to upper secondary school. Municipal upper secondary education is also free, as is the warm meal served every school day. The instruction is course-based with a lot of electives and lasts an average of three years, ending with the national matriculation exam. The matriculation exam provides the basic prerequisites for undergraduate studies at a university or vocational institute. An alternative to upper secondary school is a three-year vocational education that contains both general core subjects and practical subjects that prepare the student for a profession. This is the alternative chosen by virtually all students who do not choose the upper secondary education. Only 6 per cent of each age group drops out after comprehensive schooling. Those who have completed a vocational exam have the opportunity to continue their studies in a polytechnic school or college. Vocational schools and universities are also free. The state offers students various educational subsidies for living, meals, housing and health care. The educational institutes are primarily municipalityor state-owned, and students are accepted into them based on grades, entrance exams or aptitude tests. The country has an extensive network of libraries with advanced services that support educational efforts. Finns are very avid readers. For adults interested in developing their own skills, a wide range of courses are offered at adult education centres and open universities. This makes for a very comprehensive academic learning environment. FOCUS 27
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