The purpose of this publication is to present the main phases of Finland´s Education System reform since early 1970´s until today. Finland has become known as a small Nordic country with one of the world’s best education systems. Awareness is based in particular on the high-level PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) -results. The large and far-reaching reform in education has begun in Finland already in the 1970’s including reforms of all levels of education. The main stages of reforms are:
1. The implementation of the comprehensive school system in the 1970’s
2. Reform of secondary level education in the 1980s
3. Reform of higher education since 1991
4. Reform of children day-care and kindergarten system to pre-school system in 2013 and transfer it under the auspices of Ministry of Education and Culture
5. Reforms in General upper secondary education up to 2020’s
6. Reform of Second level vocational education in 2018
7. Extension of the compulsory education
8. Continuing education.
Common features are highlighting equality and accessibility of education, high level teacher education and all education paths without leading to higher education. The government´s purpose is that Finland has the highest success in PISA.