Debate on education and training policy guidelines

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In March 2002, a Finnish parliamentary working group on adult education and training submitted a proposal for raising education and skill levels. The SAK trade union confederation finds the proposal significant from the perspective of helping employees cope at work and improving employment opportunities. The TT employers' confederation has presented its own programme for raising the level of 'know-how' in Finland.

The parliamentary adult education and vocational training working group, made up of members of parliament and a broad-based expert group including representatives from the social partners, submitted a proposal for an education and training programme in February 2002. The proposal has aroused discussion on the future of adult education and vocational training. The working group examined the goals of adult education and training, the adequacy of current supply and its match with working life, and the financing of education and training.

Working group proposals

The working group states in its proposal that about 500,000 of the Finland's adult labour force of around 2.5 million have only a basic school education. The working group proposes an operational programme, to be carried over 2003-7, with the particular purpose of developing these people's professional skills and ensuring their continued involvement in working life. The goal of the programme is that as many as possible of the adults without secondary-level education should obtain a basic vocational education, higher professional qualifications or specialist professional training.

According to the working group, the greater part of the programme's resources should be directed toward studies that lead to a professional qualification or support or encourage the accomplishment of that aim. The goal of these studies should be to increase the level of 'know-how' and all-round education, to impart improved study skills to those who have not been involved in education for a long time, and to ensure their aptitude for further education. Part of the training would be oriented towards improving the skills needed in the 'information society'. The working group states that immigrants, too, should be provided with the opportunity to increase their professional knowledge, in addition to basic language skills.

Target group

The operational programme would be focused on those aged 30-54 years. According to the proposal, the programme would give an opportunity for education to around 80,000-120,000 people. In this way, about 20-30% of those people with only a basic education would have an opportunity to improve their skills by 2007. The programme would help to improve the productivity of the workforce and increase workers' chances of mobility in working life, as well as decreasing their risk of marginalisation and unemployment. Another aim of the programme would be to promote 'coping at work' (FI9911127F), which would help toward the goal of increasing the average retirement age in Finland (a current priority). The cost of the programme, according to the working group's estimate, would be about EUR 60 million to EUR 90 million a year.

SAK supports proposal

The chair of the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (Suomen Ammattiliittojen Keskusjärjestö, SAK), Lauri Ihalainen, described the working group's proposal as important in relation to the coping ability and employability of the adult workforce.

From SAK's standpoint, a low educational level and the risk of becoming unemployed or finding only fixed-term jobs are clearly linked; people's security on the labour market is at stake. Adult education and training should be effectively directed toward preventing unemployment and raising the employment rate. SAK also expressed concern about young people who quit their studies. In its view, there is a need to address seriously the problem that many leave school on completing the elementary level, or do not complete their vocational studies.

Adult vocational education and training could, in SAK's view, play the key role in preventing a labour shortage when large age cohorts exit the labour market in the coming years. An increase in the number of education places would not be enough in itself - applying for them must also be supported and encouraged. This presents a challenge to the employers, too. Regarding the financing, for SAK the chances for adults to obtain qualifications could be increased by easing the conditions of the so-called 'training guarantee' scheme (FI0002134N), which covers the granting of adult education and training subsidies and daily allowances.

Mr Ihalainen proposes that the education and training programme should be started as soon as possible and included in the 2003 state budget. SAK believes that a programme to raise the know-how level will also be a challenge for cooperation between the social partners and it will therefore be natural to consider it in the next collective bargaining round.

Employers propose own programme

The Confederation of Finnish Industry and Employers (Teollisuuden ja Työnantajain Keskusliitto, TT) proposed in November 2001 its own programme on education and training, entitled 'Finland to the top in know-how' ('Suomi osaamisen huipulle').

This programme stresses the importance of competitiveness in the global operational environment, which requires top-class results and quality from the Finnish education system. TT is worried about the challenge posed to working life by the ageing of the workforce and the decreasing number of skilled personnel. It points out the significance of personnel as a central, strategic competition factor: 'In the next few years, about half the demand for industrial staff will be directed toward those having a university or higher professional education, and the other half toward the vocational schools. The demands will increase in every occupation.' According to the TT programme, the international success of Finland will be decided by competitive know-how: 'If we cannot bring about educational reform, for which we have a clear need, then we will not keep up with the tough international competition.'

The report expresses TT's hoped-for goals concerning all kinds of education. The general view of the organisation is as follows: 'From the perspective of economic life, continued education after basic education is an economic investment which must stand up to comparison with other investment types. The central role of the education is to produce good all-round knowledge and professional know-how.' As regards the educational goals of high schools and colleges, TT emphasises the teaching of mathematics, natural sciences and computer skills. The organisation would also like to see an increase in the funds allocated to adult education and training.

Commentary

The programmes presented by the parliamentary adult education and training group and by TT differ in emphasis, in that the former focuses more on the education of those without secondary-level education, while TT aims more to promote the know-how level required for global competition, focusing on knowledge-based sectors which demand a highly educated workforce. However, both programmes advocate that the general education level be raised and that early termination of schooling be prevented.

It would be important to discover the reason that many people drop out of or avoid education. It may be that education is not seen as appropriate in view of an insecure future at the workplace. The traditional long, secure working careers are vanishing and, according to research studies, people do not see as much point in working as before (FI0112169F). On the other hand, it could be considered that an insecure future would make people seek education in order to achieve a better labour market position. The new education programmes have the clear goal of trying to improve the chances of less educated persons in the future labour market. The Finnish education strategy - following the European guidelines - will focus strongly on the information society and especially information technology and biotechnology, and this in turn will require a continual improvement of learning skills. (Juha Hietanen, Ministry of Labour)