Research Information System
in: CHILDREN AND SPACE: MULTIDISCIPLINARY PERSPECTIVES ON DESIGN AND EDUCATION, Asst. Prof. Elif ÖZGEN,Prof. Bilge SAYIL ONARAN, Editor, Paradigma Yayınları, Çanakkale, pp.49-106, 2024
The Finnish education system is composed of early childhood education (0-6), pre-school education (6 years old), basic education (7-15), high school, or vocational education (15-18), followed by university or vocational colleges (Finnish National Agency, 2022). In this education system, each child is evaluated individually. Therefore, the educational life of each child may differ according to the development speed of each child. Although there are no strictly defined age boundaries, 1 or 2 years may deviate for each educational period. In Finland, compulsory education starts in the pre-school period. However, although early childhood education is notcompulsory, it is supported by the government through a complementary fee policy depending on family size and income. Early childhood education and care (ECEC) is divided into two categories: 0-3 years and 3-6 years. This study focuses on ECEC centers for children aged 3-6 years. In recent years, Finland has proven its success in education by ranking first in the PISA exam results in the world. With this success, the Finnish education system has aroused curiosity, and the reasons behind it have been investigated. One of these reasons is the reflection of spatial components in schools on education. This study has been prepared to reveal the spatial correspondences of the Finnish education system and the reasons behind its success. In this study, early childhood education, which is considered to be at the core of the success of the Finnish education system, will be discussed. Early childhood schools in the Finnish education system are analyzed, and spatial criteria are put forward.