Combining VET with general secondary education: a Finnish perspective
This is the fifth article in the series of articles initiated by the Working Group on Vocational Education and Training (VET). The Working Group has decided to include at least one VET-related article on the OBESSU website per month. Previous articles have been about the “dual education system”, the internationalisation of VET, advocacy for high-quality apprenticeships and EVCET: supporting mobility in VET. The Working Group would be happy to get suggestions for future articles. If you have any ideas, do not hesitate to contact vet@obessu.org.
In this article, we will get a close-up on an interesting way of combining VET-studies and academic secondary education, from the perspective of a student in Finland.
In order to combine both vocational and general secondary education, after applying and being accepted to study at a vocational college, you can apply to take several courses from general upper secondary school. There are various ways to arrange your course of studies. One of the most common systems includes having and exchange-like experience in general upper secondary school for two months every year. The school year is divided into 5 periods, of which you spend up to two periods at different internships or on-the-job learning. In order to also follow general education, you get one period “off” from most or all vocational lessons. In this period you attend classes in a local general upper secondary school. You will study four subjects, always including a short course in maths, your native language and two other (often English and another language or a science- or humanity- subject). If you cannot find an interesting option among available courses and schedules, you can take a course outside of the school or optionally study on your own. The goal is to write the Finnish matriculation examination (finals from the academic secondary education) in the obligatory four subjects, of which one has to be your native language and the others are free for you to choose.
Another system, instead of putting you to study only at the general school for two months, allows you to attend classes all year around. This system is a bit less common but some schools exchange teachers instead. This means that after your VET classes end, or when other classmates go to specialised courses in your field of study, you attend classes with a teacher from a different school. This could mean, that you allocate your choices for optional courses to attend general upper secondary classes. The schools co-operating in the programme provide you with courses in four subjects needed for the final exam, and additional subjects are up to you to choose.
At the end of your vocational studies you take national matriculations tests in the 4 or more subjects you have chosen, and these are written in the general upper secondary school where you took your academic classes., , You can attend the final exams in one, two or three phases. For example, you could write two subjects in the spring when you graduate at your vocational college and two in the next autumn, meaning you get to graduate twice (yay!). Another option is to write all the exams at once and get both of your degrees at the same time.
That would mean that you are not only an expert on a certain field and can actually go out in the working life directly, but you also have the national matriculation examination certificate, which gives you great opportunities to apply for further education. Perhaps later in life you want to continue studying or you realise you want to do something totally different and re-direct your career path. This is when the extra work of obtaining two certificates will pay off!
Written by Bicca Olin, WG VET member – VET/general education student in Finland
