The long-term objective of Finnish education policy has been to provide the entire population with knowledge and skills. This has been the steering force both for choices relating to education policy and the development of adult education policy. The Government defines the priorities and guidelines of development policy in the strategy of education, training and research. This national strategy for 2000-2004 will be approved by the Government during the autumn of 1999. The entry into force of the renewed education legislation on 1 January, 1999, has increased the decision-making power of the providers and maintainers of education, and emphasizes the status of quality and outcome evaluation as a part of the steering policy in the field of activity of the Ministry of Education.
The Ministry of Education and the National Board of Education, an expert and development agency subordinate to the Ministry, are in charge of the education policy and self-motivated adult education. The Ministry of Labour (labour market training), the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, and the Ministry of Trade and Industry are important cooperation partners on the level of central administration. Education departments of the provincial state offices function as expert authorities in the field of activity of the Ministry of Education at the regional level. Municipalities and federations of municipalities are important providers and financers of education. The role of civic organisations is strong especially in liberal education and consultation. Labour market organisations, teachers' associations and student organisations are also important cooperation partners.
The Department for Education and Science Policy of the Ministry of Education is divided into six units: general education, vocational education and training, polytechnics, university education, science policy and adult education. The field of activity of the adult education unit mainly consists of the tasks promoting the development of adult education (general, vocational, polytechnics, universities, liberal education, guidance) and lifelong learning within the sector of the Ministry of Education. The National Board of Education has an adult education line for tasks related to adult education. The Adult Education Council is an expert body assisting the Ministry of Education; its members are appointed by the Government for a three-year term at a time.
The main tasks of the Adult Education Unit are
- controlling and formulating the national adult education policy
- legislation and economy
- securing overall conditions for training provision and division of work in the sector
- standard, cost-effective use and accessibility of education and training provision
The Ministry of Education is the third largest ministry after the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the Ministry of Finance. The Ministry of Education budget amounts to approximately 14 % of the state budget (3.8 % of the gross domestic product), i.e. FIM 26.6 billion (4.4 billion euros). In addtition to these budgetary funds, the provision of education, training, research and culture is financed by local authorities, the private sector and citizens. The Ministry of Education allocates some 13 %, almost FIM 3.5 billion (ca. 590 million euros) of its budgetary funds to adult education. One third of the appropriations is channelled to general education and liberal education, one third to vocational basic and continuing education and training, and one third to university-level adult education. Labour market training receives FIM 2 billion (310 million euros) from the state budget. The employers estimate that their investments on the personnel's education and skills amounts to almost FIM 5 billion (850 million euros) annually.
Adult education subordinate to the Ministry of Education can be summarized as follows:
- available in over 1000 institutions
- about one million students each year, i.e. every second adult
- direct budgetary funding amounts to 13 % of the Ministry of Education main division (FIM 3.5 billion/580 million euros)
- award-winning education at all levels
- free provision of degree-related studies
- training for competence-based qualifications (further vocational qualifications and special vocational qualifications, language examinations, "driver's licence" for computer)
- apprenticeship training
- continuing education for upgrading and updating vocational or professional skills
- civic education and social studies
- studies for personal gratification and self-enhancement
The priorities of development are
- action programme for lifelong learning
- the effectiveness of adult education policy and the quality of education
- implementation and follow-up of the new education legislation
- educational needs arising from the changes in working life
- the status, function and forms of self-motivated learning
- continuation of the information strategy programme
- the age structure of the population and national age programme
- social cohesion and prevention of exclusion
- maintaining the skills of the teaching staff and supporting the change of work
- improvement of the conditions of liberal education in accordance with the Government programme
- developing an internet-based information and consultation service to support adult education
