A compendium publication in English about the Finnish educational system

Statistics Finland has published a new compendium entitled Education in Finland 1999. Using international concepts and classifications, the book draws a concise picture of the Finnish educational system.

The book, which has over 160 pages, contains the following chapters: The country and its people; Educational institutions and enrolment; Educational expenditure and staff; New students and participation in education; Graduation and transition from school to work; The educational attainment of the Finns; The educational level of the labour force; Adult education and foreign language skills and Social outcomes of education.

The chapter "Social outcomes of education" studies the social inheritance of education and the strong connection between education and labour force participation, unemployment and earnings. It further investigates the impact of education on a person's leisure pursuits and the interconnection between a person's educational level, health, fertility and mortality.

Educational level of the Finns among the highest in the EU

In Finland, 95 per cent of those who complete compulsory education pursue further studies. Eighty-five per cent of those who have taken matriculation examination obtain a subsequent vocational qualification or university degree.

Fifteen per cent of the Finns aged 17 to 34 participated in tertiary education in 1996. The proportion was the highest in the EU. Also measured by many other educational indicators, Finland is among the top countries in the European Union.

Source: Education in Finland 1999. Statistics Finland (163 pages, 90 graphs, 80 tables)