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:: Teacher Student Union of Finland - SOOL

Special-interest organisation of all teacher students in Finland

Teacher Student Union of Finland, SOOL, is a national umbrella organisation of all teacher students in Finland. SOOL aims to promote the co-operation of future professionals of education in order to improve teacher training. SOOL also looks after the juridical and educational interests of its members and works to improve their studying conditions and social status.

At the moment, SOOL has almost 7000 members, who represent all the different student groups within the field of education. Largest groups are those studying to become pre-school teachers, classroom teachers, subject teachers, special education teachers, and counselors. SOOL membership is open to all students in the field of education, who are members of one of our 43 member associations.

In practice, SOOL gathers together students of different groups to consider the present and the future of teacher training. We guide and counsel member associations and organise training and seminars. In addition, we keep our members informed about current topics concerning teacher training, and work for the future of education in wide co-operation with different authorities.

SOOL also offers valuable members' benefits to every member.

Members' benefits

SOOL membership fee for the academic year 2009—2010 is 22 EUR, which entitles to following benefits:

- Member services, legal guidance, free seminars
- Opettaja and Soolibooli magazines
- Insurance benefits and discounts
- Possibility to join teachers' unemployment fund while studying
- Pocket calender, fuel discounts, travel and hotel discounts etc. etc.

Head Office

SOOL, Rautatieläisenkatu 6, FI-00520 Helsinki, FINLAND
Tel +358 20 748 9740, Fax +358 9 278 7380

Administration

The highest decision making body of SOOL is the federal assembly, which is held at least once a year. The federal assembly elects the executive board, which consists of chairman, vice-chairman, and 10 members of board. Their term is one year, June 1st to May 31st.

Iina Myllymäki Chairman Tel. +358 20 748 9742

Anna Pitkäkoski General secretary Student affairs in the Trade Union of Education in Finland (OAJ) Tel. +358 20 748 9656

The Finnish school system

Age	School	Teacher
0-6	Kindergarten	Pre-school teachers
6	Optional pre-school	Pre-school teachers or classroom teachers
7—15	Comprehensive school, 9 years	Classroom teachers and subject teachers
16—	Upper secondary school, 3 years	Subject teachers
16—	Vocational schools	Vocational school teachers
19—	Higher education	Teachers with higher academic degree

January 2006 the National Board of Education published "Quantitative educational indicators - International comparisons of some features of Finnish education and training":
www.oph.fi/info/tilastot/International_comparisons.pdf

Teacher education in Finland

Teacher training in Finland is arranged by universities and vocational institutes of higher education.

Pre-school teachers get a bachelor's degree in educational science, the extent of which is 180 credits (ETCS). This degree qualifies to serve as a kindergarten teacher and as a pre-school teacher.

Classroom teachers get a master's degree in educational science (ETCS 300 cr). This degree qualifies to serve as a classroom teacher and as a pre-school teacher. The compulsory education in Finland lasts nine years, from the age of 7 to the age of 16.

Subject teachers get a Master's degree, the extent of which is 300 credits (ETCS). There are two possibilities to get in to the subject teacher education. The more common way is to start studying the subject at the university first and then later the pedagogical studies. After these pedagogical studies one is qualified to teach the subject in question. The other way is to apply directly to the subject teacher education. This direct selection to teacher education is getting more common, but so far it is only possible in few subjects.

Special-education teachers get a Master's degree in educational science (ETCS 300 cr). This degree qualifies to serve as a special-education teacher in comprehensive schools, and as a classroom teacher.

Vocational school teachers as a rule get a degree at a university or at a vocational institute of higher education, then they work for a few years, and after that they do the pedagogical studies at a vocational institute of higher education to qualify to serve as teachers.

In 2001 the Ministry of Education published the goals for teacher education:
Teacher Education Development Programme

Links

PISA - The Finnish success and some reasons behind it

Ministry of Education Finland

Finnish National Board of Education

Trade Union of Education in Finland (OAJ)

Finland.fi - Information about Finland