keskikoulu

Keskikoulu was a compulsory, nine-year comprehensive school system in Finland that operated from 1974 to 1990. Before its introduction, the Finnish education system was divided into a lower stage (kansakoulu) and an upper stage (oppikoulu). Keskikoulu aimed to provide equal educational opportunities for all children, regardless of their socioeconomic background, by integrating these two stages into a single, unified school structure.

The curriculum in keskikoulu was standardized nationwide, covering a broad range of subjects including Finnish language and literature, mathematics, science, history, social studies, foreign languages, music, arts, and physical education. The primary goal was to ensure a common knowledge base for all students before they proceeded to further education or vocational training.

Students typically entered keskikoulu at the age of seven and completed it at sixteen. Upon graduation, students received a certificate that allowed them to pursue higher education at universities or polytechnics, or to enter vocational schools for specialized training. The introduction of keskikoulu was a significant reform in Finnish education, intended to modernize the system and promote social equality. It was later replaced by the current comprehensive school system (peruskoulu), which follows a similar philosophy but has undergone further evolution.