Objectives for general upper secondary education

Under the Act on General Upper Secondary Education, the objective of general upper secondary education is to help students grow into decent, well-rounded and educated human beings and members of society, and to provide them with the knowledge and skills required for engaging in further studies, working life and hobbies as well as to further their versatile personal development. 

The Government makes decisions on the common national objectives for general upper secondary education, on the division of time used for teaching lessons in various subjects and subject areas, and on the distribution of time used for guidance counselling (lesson hour distribution). The Finnish National Agency for Education decides on the objectives and key content of education when it approves the national core curriculum, on the basis of which education providers draw up local curricula.

The Ministry of Education and Culture has granted some education providers the right to a special educational mission. This right allows such education providers to emphasise a given subject in their teaching, such as sports, arts or music. Education leading to an International Baccalaureate diploma and the German Reifeprüfung diploma are also organised on the basis of a special educational mission.

Besides their special educational mission, education providers may place greater emphasis on courses and modules that comply more closely with their curriculum.

Contact information

Heikki Blom, opetusneuvos 
Ministry of Education and Culture, Lukiokoulutuksen ja ammatillisen koulutuksen osasto (LAMOS), Koulutuksen vastuualue 0295330074