SMART Community Review (SCR) Teacher education in Finland | Page 16

which is mainly targeted at unemployed people.
Liberal adult education offers non-formal
studies. It promotes personal growth, health
and well-being by offering courses relating to
citizenship skills and society and in different
crafts and subjects on a recreational basis.
In both general and vocational education,
there are also separate educational paths for
adults. In vocational training competence-based
qualifications are specifically intended for
adults. In higher education adults can study in
separate adult education programmes offered by
universities of applied sciences.
Education system
based on trust
and responsibility
Most education is publicly funded
Most institutions providing basic and upper
secondary level education are maintained by
local authorities or joint municipal consortia.
Responsibility for educational funding is divided
between the State and the local authorities.
Most private institutions do not differ from
those that are publicly maintained. They follow
the national core curricula and qualification
10  Finnish education in a nutshell