The Legislators' Requirements Will Not Be Realised in the Value Basis of Finnish Basic Education — How Problematic is a Lack of Concept Definition? An Examination of the Value Basis of Finnish Basic Education

Abstract

The article examines from an administrative perspective the problems related to the definition of the value basis of basic education in Finland's increasingly multi-ideological society. The article relates to a doctoral study, ‘Definition of the objectives of basic education in the administrative process during the years 1993–2004. The value content and intelligibility of objectives’. The article focuses on the ‘non-confessionalism’ value concept in the value basis which fundamentally defines Finnish basic education and the problems related to its content and its implications for ideological schools and basic education in general. The important role of values education is to support pupils understanding their own values. The varying manifestations in the values basis of religious content in the educational legislation of different countries are also examined. The western countries presented as case examples have been chosen because of their Christian tradition and on the basis of their policy differences.