A3 Refereed book chapter or chapter in a compilation book
Shared and Contested Views of Education Professionals on the Forms of Privatisation within Comprehensive Schooling in Finland
Authors: Nivanaho Nina, Haavisto Mikko, Palonen Tuire, Lempinen Sonia, Seppänen Piia
Editors: Santalova Antonina, Põder Kaire
Publishing place: New York
Publication year: 2024
Book title : Privatization in and of Public Education
Series title: International Policy Exchange
First page : 130
Last page: 150
ISBN: 978-0-19-767350-8
eISBN: 978-0-19-767353-9
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780197673508.003.0007
This chapter examines Finnish education professionals’ views on the forms of privatization within comprehensive education in Finland. Finland has a long tradition of public provision of education, guided by the state and municipalities, and until today, privatization in the country has not proceeded within schooling to the same extent as it has in many other countries. However, recently, emerging education-related business has intensified around Finnish comprehensive education. This survey study explored education professionals’ (n = 227) social-democratic and privatization views on comprehensive schooling. A latent profile analysis showed the majority of education professionals were against endogenous (competition in schooling, schools being business-like) and exogenous (cooperation between public and private entities, outsourcing of schooling) privatization. Nevertheless, a small profile of educators (10.1%) somewhat supported all dimensions of privatization. Regardless of their views on privatization, education professionals strongly supported social-democratic views of equal educational opportunity as a foundational to Finnish education.