Finland to the top in education and skills

Throughout history, skills and creativity as well as the ability to adapt and change our approach have been Finland’s assets. Being the most skilled nation in the world should continue to be our objective, as it is the only way for us to be competitive and ensure that everyone can pursue their dreams. We need an ever better comprehensive school, more higher education and research, opportunities for learning throughout one’s career, and investments in new ideas, inventions and innovations.

The extension of compulsory education and creation of genuinely free-of-charge upper secondary education were big steps in the right direction toward the basic education required in today’s world, but they alone are not enough. Training and education are cornerstones of Finnish wellbeing and they belong to everyone. They are the foundation for the opportunity for personal fulfilment as a full member of the community. The possibility for further training and learning must be available throughout life.

There are cautionary examples of what happens if a government neglects futures thinking. After cuts made in education, there has been a shortage of skilled workforce. The level of education has begun to fall. Research and development efforts have decreased. This is not what we want.

However, knowledge and skills are not only about formal education and qualifications. They are about creativity and the society’s approach to new things. They are about intelligence that includes inclusion, culture, civil activism that strengthens democracy, physical activity that maintains people’s wellbeing and ability to function, as well as participation and strengthening community spirit.

Improving skills

• More individual support for learning on all levels of education and educational transition phases
• High-quality, free-of-charge early childhood education and care and two-year pre-primary education
• The best comprehensive school in the world, which requires a parliamentary comprehensive school reform
• An ambitious increase in the education level: over 60% of young people to have higher education qualifications in the 2030’s
• Sufficient personnel from early childhood education and care to higher education, and investments in staff wellbeing, skills, and career pathways
• The right to develop their skills throughout their career for everyone, and creating a new working life training concept

A strong democracy, a vibrant culture and an active nation

• A broad democracy programme that seeks answers to strengthening democracy, increasing participation, and raising voter turnout
• Broad implementation of cultural rights. The funding of culture must be raised to the level of one percent of state budget
• The right of every child and young person to at least one hobby and making the Finnish model for leisure activities permanent
• Increasing physical activity in all age groups to improve health and wellbeing