Vocational education expands in Finland

Vocational education has also continuously expanded to guarantee ever better the basic skills required of the labour force. Vocational colleges were mainly established already during the late 19th century. Vocational school education started in the after war period. The Act on vocational schools was passed in 1958. The foundation of the network of vocational schools was formed of the general vocational schools, which could be attended after primary school. Educational institutions at the school level or upper secondary level evolved alongside vocational schools.

In the early 20th century, the number of students attending vocational education was 8,000. In 1940 they numbered about 20,000 and in 2005 the number of students attending some form of vocational education leading to a qualification was nearly 250,000.

Vocational education has undergone continuous change and development over the past decades. Currently it takes three years to obtain an initial vocational qualification. In recent years especially apprenticeship training and vocational education completed as a competence-based skills examination have increased and broadened the field of vocational education. Currently nearly one-half of vocational qualifications are completed as a competence-based skills examination.