yläkouluihin

Yläkouluihin is the Finnish term referring to upper secondary education, which follows compulsory primary and lower secondary education. It covers a two–to three‑year period and is intended for youth aged between 15 and 19. The main goal of yläkouluihin is to provide a broad, academically oriented or vocationally oriented education that prepares students for tertiary studies or for the labour market.

Upper secondary schools in Finland are divided into three main types: general upper secondary schools (yleisskola or maahan perustetut koulu), vocational upper secondary schools (ammattikoulu) and special needs schools. General upper secondary schools offer a comprehensive programme that culminates in the national matriculation examination, the final assessment required for admission to universities. Vocational schools focus on practical training and professional subjects, often complemented by theoretical coursework; their graduates obtain a vocational diploma and can also pursue university studies. Special needs schools provide adapted education for students with significant learning or developmental difficulties.

Admission to yläkouluihin is based on the completion of lower secondary education and an entrance assessment. Schools are funded by municipalities and operate under the authority of the Finnish National Agency for Education. The curriculum includes compulsory subjects such as Finnish, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences and foreign languages, with optional electives that enable students to specialize. The comprehensive and equitable structure of yläkouluihin is considered a cornerstone of Finland’s high educational performance ranking in international assessments.