1. Kristina Kaihari-Salminen Senior adviser 5.5.2006
CURRICULUM REFORM IN FINNISH BASIC AND GENERAL UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION
Kristina Kaihari-Salminen
Senior adviser

2. NEW DISTRIBUTION OF LESSON HOURS IN BASIC EDUCATION

3. CURRICULUM REFORM
Principles
Equal opportunities and quality of learning
Effect of pre-school education
Coherent basic education
Good basic skills
Guidance and welfare services for pupils
Pupils’ and parents’ and guardians’ rights and roles
Criteria for good achievements

4. CURRICULUM REFORM 2000-2006 Decisions and their implementation
National core curriculum for Pre-School Education 2001
Safe and caring learning environment
Supporting learning and co-operative skills
National core curriculum for grades 1 and 2 of Comprehensive School 2002
Continuity from the pre-school education
National core curriculum for Basic Education 2004
Implementation between autumn 2004 and autumn 2006
National core curriculum for the General Upper Secondary School 2003
Implementation as of autumn 2005

5. CURRICULUM REFORM 2000-2006 An example of local curriculum design
Local authorities give municipal guidelines, supervise schools and support schools by training and guidance
Every school draws up the school curriculum according to the national and municipal guidelines
Also parents and pupils participate in curriculum design
Local education authorities decide on the school curriculum

6. CURRICULUM REFORM 2000-2006 Elements of the school curriculum (1)
Basic values and goals for teaching and learning
Shared ideas about teaching and learning
Organising teaching and learning
- Conception of learning, learning environment, principles for the selection of teaching methods
- Allocation of lesson hours, language programme, criteria for pupil intake, teaching arrangements with other schools and partners

7. CURRICULUM REFORM 2000-2006 Elements of the school curriculum (2)
Goals and structures for learning support and special education
Pupil guidance and counselling, individual study plan
Remedial teaching, part-time special education and special education
Preparatory education for immigrant children
Goals and structures for pupil welfare services
Welfare services, after-school activities, activities outside lessons, school meals and transport services
Goals and contents, methods and assessment procedures in different subjects
Subjects and cross-curricular themes

8. UPPER SECONDARY SCHOOL Distribution of lesson hours 2002
1 course
= 38 lessons of 45 minutes
= 1 weekly lesson in a school year
Compulsory and specialisation courses
Compulsory
Specialisation
courses
courses
Subject or subject group 6 3
Mother tongue and literature
Languages
Language starting in grades 1-6 of
basic education (A-language)
Language starting in grades 7-9 of
basic education (B-language)
Other languages 6 2 5 2 16
Mathematics
Basic syllabus or
Advanced syllabus 6 2
Environmental and natural sciences 10 3
Biology
Geography
Physics
Chemistry 2 3 2 2 1 7 1 4
Religion / Ethics 3 2
Philosophy 1 3 1
Psychology 4
History
Social studies 4 2 2 2
Art and physical education 5
Physical education
Music
Visual arts 2 3
1- 2
1- 2 3 3
Health education 1 2
Educational and vocational guidance 1 1
Compulsory courses
47-51
Specialisation courses, minimum
Applied courses 10 75
Minimum total number of courses

9. GENERAL UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION SYLLABUS (1)
Studies consist of compulsory, specialisation and applied courses
Specialisation courses are elective courses relating to compulsory courses
The students must include at least ten specialisation courses as part of their study plan
Each upper secondary school may provide school-specific specialisation courses

10. GENERAL UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION SYLLABUS (2)
Each upper secondary school may also provide applied courses
Minimum number of 75 courses are required for the completion of upper secondary education syllabus

11. GENERAL UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION Curriculum Reform
New National Core Curriculum drawn up by the Finnish National Board of Education 2003
Local curricula will be drawn up in accordance with the National Core Curriculum
New curricula was implemented as of 1st August 2005

12. GENERAL UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION The Curriculum Reform aims at (1)
Taking into account the changes in legislation and in society (e.g. development of technology, globalization, networking, sustainable development)
Safeguarding the existence of small upper secondary schools
Emphasising the special character of the general upper secondary education as the provider of general education

13. GENERAL UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION The Curriculum Reform aims at (2)
Defining the aims and contents more exactly than in the National Core Curriculum of 1994
Encouraging the schools to create study environments in accordance with the current conception of learning

14. GENERAL UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION Special Features
18 subjects + student counselling
Extensive language programme
Flexible structures for:
- making local decisions concerning curriculum
(providers of education)
- drawing up annual work plan (school)
- drawing up individual study plan (student)
- completing matriculation examination (student)

15. GENERAL UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION - a student´s point of view (1)
entrance requirements
studies
the school year is divided into 5 or 6 periods each offering different course options, no permanent groups
the student plans his/her own schedule for each period and his/her study programme with the help of a student counsellor
consist of courses which are not tied to grades

16. GENERAL UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION - a student´s point of view (2)
duration
usually three years, may be completed in two or four years
assessment, examinations and certificates
each course to be assessed
general upper secondary education syllabus (minimum 75 courses)
matriculation examination