Recipes for Systemic Change - Helsinki Design Lab

D3.4 Equality but not EqualThere are more opportunities for education in Finland today than inthe past. The creation of comprehensive schools, upper secondary vocationalschools, and the polytechnics removed the “track system” and “deadend” paths that used to exist not long ago. However, discrepancies that arisedue to variations among schools and unequal access continue to persist.All school-aged children are guaranteed a place in school; however, theapplication system favours students with greater means. Children fromfamilies of parents with higher levels of education, that can afford tutorsor supplementary learning materials, and that are able to commute greaterdistances beyond the nearest school possess certain advantages over others.Although equal in principle, Finland’s education system is structuredin two tiers. Vocational upper secondary school is viewed as the second orlesser option when compared to the academic route. A vocational educationis seen to offer more limited prospects for higher education and mediocrejob opportunities. The higher status general upper secondary school allowsfor greater flexibility to enter either university or a polytechnic education.Some students who graduate from general upper secondary schoolenrol in a vocational program afterwards. Known as the “double degree,”students use it to improve their applications to more selective higher educationdegree programs.Government Financial Aid grants and subsidies do not take intoaccount one’s family’s ability to support a student. The system does not differentiatecost of living expenses between more and less expensive regionsin the country, meaning that acceptance to a top choice academic programcould result in greater economic hardship. Lower-income students oftenrely more heavily on government-backed loans for their education, takingon greater risk in the face of uncertain employment prospects years later,after graduation.A discrepancy between gender-based performance appears to be on therise in Finland. When comparing male and female students in terms ofenrolment in higher education, rates of continuation, matriculation examinationresults, and degrees earned, the data shows that Finnish males arefalling behind and dropping out of school at higher rates.173