Session Information
23 SES 07 C, Theorizing Globally Distributed Educational Work
Symposium
Contribution
This snapshot of educational work examines the policy debate about vocational teacher capacities in Finland. According to current regulations, vocational teacher requirements are equal at upper secondary and polytechnic levels across a variety of vocational fields. However, policy initiatives aim to alleviate the mismatch between vocational education and labour market needs by creating new ranks and hierarchies among teachers, education sectors and vocational fields. This paper examines the proposal to degrade eligibility requirements for upper secondary level teachers as a way of flexibilising the (teacher) workforce in health and social care; a field known for qualified teachers and teacher professionalism. Using the ministerial report,,“A final report of the working group on the qualifications of vocational teachers and principals” and 29 related statements, I document proposals supported by employer organisations, private education agencies and the organisation of polytechnic principals for demarcations that safeguard polytechnic teachers as the heartland and core centre of excellence in vocational teacherhood. By contrast arguments presented by field-specific teacher associations, the Board of Education and the Commission of Education which sponsor the present standards, two national teacher unions keep silent, restrain themselves and wait for additional committee work to be started.
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