Special features of the Finnish educational system

No dead-ends, one can apply for the polytechnic or university after completing upper secondary ( either the national matriculation examination or the the vocational qualification)

After the compulsory comprehensive school an additional basic education (an extra tenth grade year) or preparatory training year for the vocational education

high percentage takes part in the secondary level education

Modules to get to know the working life

Guidance and counselling system in Finland

Guidance is a part of public services Two main systems of guidance that

complement each other: - pupil / student counselling by the

educational system - counselling by the labour

administration in employment offices - workshops, different projects e.g. EU-

projects

Guidance at educational institutions

- qualifications and degrees allow students a great deal of freedom and choice.

- credits from previous study can be transferred

- educational guidance aims to support, help angd guide pupils so that each pupil performs as well as possible in studies and is able to make appropriate decisions concerning the education and career choices

1) Pre-primary education

one year, at the age of 6 participation voluntary, 97 % take part mostly in day-care centres, the aim is to

observe the child´s development and learning and to foster social skills and ability to learn

2) Basic education ( comprehensive schools)

7-16 year-olds nine grades: 1-6 lower grade, 7-9 higher grade

compulsory education finishes at the completion the comprehensive school syllabus

basic education seeks to educate and to nurture the aim is to help the pupils grow as human beings and

members of society and give them necessary knowledge and skills

all teachers contribute to the provision of guidance In the lower grades 1-6 (primary level) educational guidance is integrated into normal class teacher´s instruction

In grades 1-6 talk about different professions and visits to work places

guidance councellors in lower secondary level (grades 7-9)  - there should be one counsellor for 250 7-9

graders) What does a guidance counsellor do in comprehensive school?

-teaches lessons, guidance is a subject among others, the national curriculum affords 76 hours of guidance and counselling during grades 7 to 9), about one third on counsellors work is teaching his/her guidance lessons.

However he/she doesn´t need to test or evaluate the subject as other subject teachers have to do

Counsellor`s jobs, continue

- gives private personal guidance to the pupils in the office, talks about the optional subjects, further education opportunities and career choices, career planning, problems at learning, mobbing etc

- works closely together with subject teachers, class head teachers, special needs teachers, school nurse...

- works with the parents of his/her pupils (gives information, often the parents come to the counsellor-student discussions

Counsellor´s jobs, continue

- goes to talk with the six-graders about the change when they turn to 7th graders and divides the pupils into classes for the school years 7-9

- arranges visits/ excursions to educational institutions, companies, firms, employment office…

- arranges work experience models for 7th -9th graders. Pupils are in workplaces (companies, firms etc) about 2 days in 7th grade, a week in 8th grade and two weeks in 9th grade). The aim is to get knowledge about working life.

Counsellor´s jobs, continue

follows the student´s progress and graduation

arranges the joint nationwide application of the 9th graders (online system)

is a member of the pupil welfare team, it meets once in a week or two weeks

arranges for his/her part the parents´ evenings

And does all the other jobs that the headmaster gives you… 

Comprehensive school (9 years) In charge of guidance and conselling: Class teachers Subject teachers Guidance counsellors Methods: In classes Study excursions Workplace visits and periods Individual guidance Web-based guidance

Guidance councellors in upper secondary education (secondary-level)

Two main lines after the compulsory comprehensive:

- general upper secondary school (3 years), finishes in the matriculation examination

- upper secondary vocational education and training (trade school, 3 years), ends in getting a trade certificate ( a cook, a gardener, a car mechanic etc)

( also the double qualification/ combining is possible)

There is possibility to an additional year for those who don`t get in to neither of these two ( the 10th grade or preparatory training year)

Counselling in the secondary level A lot of same works as in compulsory

level Counsellors

help with choosing of the courses, study plans and the exams discuss about study skills, the future plans, give information (to dio this they have to keep up-to-date about the curriculums in higher education ( polytechnics and universities)

train the tutoring students

General upper secondary school/ Vocational college

In charge of the guidance: Teachers Group advisers Guidance counsellors In vocational college also the workplace

instructors Methods: Workplace visits and study excursions (upper

sec.) Individual guidance On-the-job learning (vocat. institution) Web-based guidance

Counselling in higher educationAfter general upper secondary school or vocational

qualification the student can apply to a polytechnic (universities of applied sciences, 3.5

ys university, 5-7 years

through a national joint application system ( on line), there are entrance exams

Both have student councelling services to applicants and existing students.

Also all polytechnics and universities have their own careers and recruitment services

Higher education (polytechnics, universities)

In charge of guidance and counselling: Specialist counsellors Teachers Methods: individual guidance integrated into teaching careers and recruitment servicesstudy affairs guidanceweb-based and distance guidance

Adult education institutions

In charge of guidance and counselling: teachersguidance counsellors Methods individual guidance integrated into teaching web-based and distance guidance

Guidance and counselling services in Employment Offices

1) Educational and vocational information services

by education advisers

Methods:Individual guidanceInformation and guidance in groupsSelf-study facilities

Guidance and counselling services in Employment Offices

2) Vocational guidance and career planning

by vocational guidance psychologists

Methods:Individual guidancePsychological assessmentsWork and education try-outs

Guidance and counselling services in Employment Offices

3) Vocational rehabilitation by special employment advisors, rehabilitation advisors (for disabled jobseekers) and vocational guidance psychologists (for all individual

clients)Methods:individual guidance on employment and

rehabilitationindividual vocational guidance and career plannindhealth checks and aptitude testsspecialist consultations and work/education try-outs

Guidance and counselling services in Employment Offices

4) Employment service by employment advisers and counsellorsMethods:individual employment servicejobseeking informationself-study facilitiesAll citizens use the services, not only the

unemploydedSpecial efforts for the young unemployded,

e.g. a SANSSI-card (the employer can get 550€ a month

Training on guidance and counselling practitioners in Finland

As a rule a counsellor needs a teacher´s qualification

Master´s degree in the University of Eastern Finland or Jyväskylä (300 credits) Also guidance counsellors to the vocational sector can take their qualification (60 credits) at the HAMK or Jyväskylä Universities of Applied Sciences

In Swedish (the other official language 5,4%) Åbo Akademi University in Vaasa

Ways to get the qualification: A degree programme for guidance counsellors If you are a teacher (higher education degree) you

can gain the qualification by multiform training

Education for advisers and vocational psychologists in employment offices

Vocational guidance psychologist reguires a master´s degree ( the highest grade in psychology)

Many of the education advisers or employmenty advisers/ consellors have a higher degree from a polytechnic or university

In-service training and advanced study programs provided by the employer

What lies ahead

Life-long education Individual needs Various information and communication

networks CHALLENGES: Economy Ageing population The demand for skills and competencies Constant change and fragmented

working life Multiprofessional co-operation

Jorma Etto:SUOMALAINEN - FIN A FINN

Suomalainen on sellainen, joka vastaa kun ei kysytä,kysyy kun ei vastata, ei vastaa kun kysytään,sellainen, joka eksyy tieltä, huutaa rannallaja vastarannalla huutaa toinen samanlainen:metsä raikuu, kaikuu, hongat humajavat.Tuolta tulee suomalainen ja ähkyy, on tässä ja ähkyy,tuonne menee ja ähkyy, on kuin löylyssä ja ähkyykun toinen heittää kiukaalle vettä.Sellaisella suomalaisella on aina kaveri,koskaan se ei ole yksin, ja se kaveri on suomalainen.Eikä suomalaista erota suomalaisesta mikään,ei mikään paitsi kuolema ja poliisi.

Jorma Etto:SUOMALAINEN - FIN A FINN

A Finn is the one who answers when not asked,asks when not answered, does not answer when asked,the one who loses the way, yells on the shore,and on the opposite shore yells another of the same kind:the forest clangs, echoes, the pines hum.There comes a Finn and groans, is here and groans,goes there and groans, is as in the sauna and groanswhen the other one throws water on the stove.That kind of a Finn always has a partner,he is never alone, and that partner is a Finn.And nothing separates a Finn from a Finn,nothing except the death and the police.