Curriculum, subjects, number of hours

Upper secondary vocational education

The process of development, adoption, and issue of the upper secondary vocational education programme is the same as for upper secondary technical education programmes.

The upper secondary vocational programme includes: programme name, objectives, education duration, compulsory assessment methods and examination, enrolment, conditions for progression and completion, and attained vocational qualification, subject-curriculum, knowledge maps for separate subjects, knowledge standards assessed in the final examination, and knowledge standards set out for subject teachers.

Syllabi of upper secondary vocational programmes:

• General knowledge subjects: mother tongue, maths, foreign language, arts, natural science, social science and sports: 28% of all periods.
• Technical modules with content related to the industry targeted by a respective education programme; in some programmes, all technical modules are compulsory and in others, some are compulsory and others are elective: 28% of all periods.
• Practical training in workplace courses: 25% of all periods; for the most part, the organisation of practical training is the responsibility of the school. It enters into collective special agreement on workplace courses for its students with chosen employers. The students (or their parents) have an option to enter into individual contracts on practical training and if this is the case, the practical training is extended for 9 weeks over three years.
• Special interest activities, different from other subjects in the form of delivery, to acquire knowledge and skills according to students' individual interests and preferences: 4% of all periods, and
• Open part of the programme is specified by the school in cooperation with regional industry associations and/or social partners: 15% of all periods.

Short vocational education

The process of development, adoption, and issue of the short vocational education programme is the same as for upper secondary technical education programmes.

The short vocational programme encompasses: programme name, objectives, education duration, compulsory assessment methods and examination, enrolment, conditions for progression and completion, and attained vocational qualification, subject-curriculum, knowledge maps for separate subjects, knowledge standards of the final exam, and knowledge standards set out for subject teachers.

Short vocational programme syllabi:

• General knowledge subjects: mother tongue, maths, natural science and social science, and sports: 30% of all periods.
• Technical modules with content related to the industry targeted by a respective education programme; in some programmes, all technical modules are compulsory and in others, some are compulsory and others are elective: 40% of all periods (app. two thirds include lessons of practical training).
• Practical training in workplace courses: 6% of all periods; the organisation of practical training is the responsibility of the school. It enters into special agreements for all its students on taking workplace courses.
• Special interest activities, different from other subjects in the form of delivery, to acquire knowledge and skills according to students' individual interests and preferences: 4% of all periods.
• Open part of the programme is specified by the school in cooperation with regional industry associations and/or social partners: 20% of all periods.

Teaching methods and materials

For details see Teaching and Learning in General Upper Secondary Education.