Special needs in VET in Finland Kiipula Vocational College markku.aunola@kiipula.fi
THE FINNISH EDUCATION SYSTEM
Features of the Finnish Education System
- Equal opportunities for all citizens to high-quality education and training irrespective of their ethnic origin, age, wealth or where they live - Education seen as a key to competitiveness and wellbeing of the society - Educational autonomy is high at all levels - Most education is publically funded - Education is free at all levels (except adult education) - No dead-ends (Learners can always continue their studies on an upper level of education, whatever choices they make in between.)
Features of the Finnish Education System
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Youth guarantee (Inc an educational guarantee) Individual learning paths State financial aid scheme for students Resources for those who need them most High standards and supports for special needs Teacher in Finland are highly trained Teachers have pedagogical autonomy
Administration and Funding
- Decisions on the contents of legislation on education and research made by the Parliament based on government proposals - The Government and the Ministry of Education and Culture are responsible for preparing and implementing education and science policy - The main steering document in the Finnish education policy is the Government’s Development Plan for Education and Research. Adobted by the government every four years. - The Finnish National Board of Education works with the Ministry of Education and Culture to develop educational aims, content and methods for primary, secondary and adult education - Local administration is the responsibility of the local authorities (municipalities), which play a prominent role as education providers - Most institutions providing basic and upper secondary level education are maintained by local authorities or joint municipal boards
Vocational Education and Training in Finland
- the National Core Curricula (FNBE) -Each education provider’s locally approved curricula - student’s personal study plan
Vocational Education and Training in Finland
- about 150 VET-providers in Finland - 8 vocational fields, 52 upper secondary vocational qualifications and 120 study programmes - built on the basic education syllabus - the duration of the vocational qualification is 3 years (120 credits)
Vocational Education and training in Finland
- The Curriculum includes: • vocational modules (90 credits, a minimum of 20 credits of on-the-joblearning) • core subjects (20 credits) (complusory modules for all and optional modules) • free-choice modules (10 credits)
Special Needs Education And Training
- Intended for students who need special support to assist them with their studies - Primarily in regular vocational institutions ( about 75 %) - Seven separate vocational special schools; provide special facilities and services to promote the vocational education and training fos students with the most severe disabilities or chronic illnesses - Six of these vocational colleges function also as development centres for special needs education and training
Adult Education - All forms of education and training are also provided for adults - A flexible way for adults to study for and achieve vocational qualifications is through the system of competence-based qualifications, which is designed specially for adults - There are three levels of competence-based qualifications: - upper secondary vocational qualifications - further vocational qualifications - specialist vocational qualifications.
Vocational Teacher Education - Vocational teacher degree •Appropriate higher education degree •Appropriate polytechnic /university of applied sciences degree •The highest possible qualification in their own occupational field + at least 3 years of work experience + at least 60 credits of pedagogical studies + -Vocational special needs teacher training 60 credits of special needs teacher training
Goals in Secondary Education for Special Needs Students
Transition • from school to work • from childhood to adulthood • from home to independent living
Special needs and support Special needs of the student can be – educational – social – psychological – physical – medical Support (and solutions) can be – corrective, compensatory or constructive
Main principles of special education Students with special needs • Inclusion into common groups • Integrated groups • Qualification training in special education follows the national core curriculum • Individual adaptations are possible • Each student has Individual Education Plan + Individual Study Plan
Paths in special needs VET Vocational upper secondary education and training (vocational qualification VQ)
Compulsory education
- work - further studies
Preparatory 1
- work
- Skills for studying
- studies
Preparatory 2
- Supported employment
- Skills for work and independent living
- Day centres - pension
Individual Education Plan (IEP) for each student Qualification to be completed, scope of the qualification and individual curriculum (IC) - Grounds for special needs education - Special needs education and student welfare services - Other individual services and support measures -
Vocational Education and Training Decree 811/1998 ยง 8
Learning support services According to the Vocational Education and Training Act, a student in special needs education is entitled to special needs assistant services, other student welfare services and special aids, where necessary, to enable them to study. 630/1998 ยง 38
Support services include • • • • • • •
Guidance and counseling services Psychosocial support Speech therapist services Technical teaching tools (small groups) Lodging and daily activities, transportation Therapy sessions outside the school Multiprofessional co-operation
Specific questions and future challenges New legislation and financing challenges Renewal of curriculum Education of minorities (incl. immigrants) Life long learning Workbased learning models and methods Employment of people with disabilities The need for networking
About Teacher Education Vocational teacher degree • Appropriate degree in university or university of applied sciences (180-240 credits /3-4 years) • The highest possible qualification in their own occupational field + at least 3 years of work experience + at least 60 credits of pedagogical studies + Vocational special needs teacher training 60 credits of special needs teacher training
Vocational Special Education In Finland
- SEN Students may apply to general vocational institutions within the national joint application system or through the related flexible application procedure. - They may also apply directly to vocational educational institutions with special educational tasks - pupil guidance counsellors in basic education and student counsellors in vocational education aim at finding a suitable place for each pupil/student according to his/her wishes and abilities.
Support Services for Students - Guidance and counselling services - Psychosocial support - Possibly speech/occupational/physiotherapist services - Technical teaching tools and aids - Accomodation and leisure time activities - Daily life activities - School transportation - Multi-professional co-operation
Colleges Providing Vocational Special Needs Education (SNE) In Finland
Aitoo Vocational College Bovallius Vocational Education and Training Center FPD J채rvenp채채 Training Centre (from 1.8.2014 Validia Vocational College) Keskuspuisto Vocational College Kiipula Vocational College Luovi Vocational College Optima (Swedish-speaking Finland)
Specific Features In Finnish Vocational Special Education In addition to qualification training we also offer – PRE-VOCATIONAL TRAINING (20 – 80 credits) – For SEN Students who need to develop their cognitive and life management skills – The next step will be vocational studies
– PREPARATORY AND REHABILITATIVE TRAINING FOR WORK AND INDEPENDENT LIFE (40 – 120 credits) • For students with severe learning disabilities • Training of independent life skills and certain, tailor-made work tasks • Lots of need for support • Training arranged in vocational SNE colleges and in some (5) mainstream vocational scools (who have a specific lisence to offer the education)
Paths In Special Needs VET Vocational upper secondary education and training (vocational qualification VQ)
Compulsory /basic education
- Work - Further studies
Preparatory 1
- Vocational studies
- Study skills
- Work
- Life management
Preparatory 2 - Skills for work and independent living
- Supported employment - Day centres - Pension
Special needs education in Finland
- Work or vocational studies
Grounds For Special Needs Education - People with additional needs are entitled to vocational education by law - Grounds for special needs education: • Difficulties with perception, attention and concentration • Interaction and behavioural problems • Delayed development (modified instructional services) • Severe disabilities (specialised instructional environment) • Long-term mental illnesses • Long-term physical illnesses • Learning difficulties due to autism and Asperger syndrome • Mobility and motor difficulties • Hearing impaired students • Visually impaired students • Other reason that requires SNE
Individual Education Plan (IEP) For Each Student - Individual education plan must set out • details of the qualification to be completed • the national core curriculum or the requirements of the competencebased qualification observed in education and training • the scope of the qualification • the individual curriculum drawn up for the student • grounds for providing special education and training • special educational and student welfare services required for studying as well as other services and support measures provided for the student. Each education provider is responsible for organizing special education and training and services
Individual Education Plan (IEP) For Each Student - Individual education plans are drawn up so as to enable assessment and monitoring of pupils’ learning processes, rehabilitation and achievement of their individual educational objectives. Each plan must include the following information as required to individualize instruction provided for the pupil: • a description of the pupil’s learning abilities and strengths • special needs related to learning and the needs to develop teaching and learning environments as required by these;
Individual Education Plan (IEP) For Each Student • long- and short-term objectives for instruction and learning; • the numbers of weekly lessons per year included in the pupil’s study plan; • a list of those subjects where the pupil’s studies differ from syllabi for regular instruction; • the objectives and core contents of those subjects where the pupil follows an individual syllabus;
Individual Education Plan (IEP) For Each Student • principles for monitoring and assessment of the pupil’s progress; • interpreting and assistant services, other teaching and pupil welfare services, communication methods and special aids and teaching materials required for participation in education; • a description of the provision of instruction for the pupil in conjunction with other education and/or in a special education group; • people participating in organization of the pupil’s teaching and support services and their areas of responsibility; • monitoring of the implementation of support services.
Learning Support Services According to the Vocational Education and Training Act, a student in special needs education is entitled to special needs assistant services, other student welfare services and special aids, where necessary, to enable them to study. 630/1998 ยง 38
Students pathway – the basic process in Kiipula
Multi-disciplinary co-operation
PSP
IEP
future plan learning at work Humanity professional growth Adequacy
guidance support learning
trial period recruitment
good life work
Partnership Courage
Productiveness
teach ers
school
(Special education) models in vocational/skills training school-based training work-shop sandwich apprenticeship on-the-job training self-employment entrepreneurship
work
Train e coac rs/ hes
dual-system