Published: 14 March 2018
Discontinuation of education decreased further
In the academic year 2015/2016, discontinuation of education decreased from the previous year in upper secondary general school education, vocational education, university of applied sciences education and university education. In all, 5.0 per cent of students discontinued their studies and did not resume them in any education leading to a qualification or degree. Discontinuation of education decreased for the fourth year in a row. These data derive from Statistics Finland’s Education Statistics.
Discontinuation of education in upper secondary general, vocational, university of applied sciences and university education in academic years from 2005/2006 to 2015/2016, %
The percentages of discontinuation were 3.0 per cent in upper secondary general education aimed at young people, 7.3 per cent in vocational education aimed at young people, 7.2 per cent in university of applied sciences education (university of applied sciences degrees), and 6.1 per cent in university education (lower and higher university degrees) in the academic year 2015/2016.
Women discontinued most often their vocational education, men their university of applied sciences education
If students who have changed their sector of education, e.g. students who have switched from upper secondary general school to vocational education, are not calculated as discontinued students, the percentages of discontinuation are lower. Students in upper secondary general education and in university of applied sciences education changed their sector of education most frequently. Women and men changed their sector of education equally often.
Women discontinued their education leading to a qualification or degree less often than men in the academic year 2015/2016. Women discontinued most often their vocational education, men their university of applied sciences education. Women discontinued their studies more often than men only in vocational education.
Discontinuation of education leading to a qualification or degree by sex and sector of education in academic year 2015/2016 1)
| Sex / sector of education | Number of students used in the statistics on discontinuation of education 20 Sept. 2015 | Discontinued in own sector of education | Changed sector of education | Discontinued completely education leading to a qualification or degree | |
| % | % | % | |||
| Total | 466 147 | 6,1 | 1,1 | 5,0 | |
| Men and women | Upper secondary general education (aimed at young people) | 95 543 | 3,0 | 1,5 | 1,4 |
| Vocational education (aimed at young people) | 118 881 | 7,3 | 0,8 | 6,5 | |
| University of applied sciences education (university of applied sciences degrees) | 127 371 | 7,2 | 1,3 | 5,9 | |
| University education (Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees) | 124 352 | 6,1 | 0,8 | 5,3 | |
| Men | Total | 223 391 | 6,9 | 1,1 | 5,8 |
| Upper secondary general education (aimed at young people) | 40 536 | 3,4 | 1,6 | 1,8 | |
| Vocational education (aimed at young people) | 65 189 | 7,2 | 0,5 | 6,6 | |
| University of applied sciences education (university of applied sciences degrees) | 60 111 | 8,9 | 1,5 | 7,4 | |
| University education (Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees) | 57 555 | 6,9 | 0,8 | 6,1 | |
| Women | Total | 242 756 | 5,3 | 1,1 | 4,2 |
| Upper secondary general education (aimed at young people) | 55 007 | 2,7 | 1,5 | 1,2 | |
| Vocational education (aimed at young people) | 53 692 | 7,4 | 1,1 | 6,4 | |
| University of applied sciences education (university of applied sciences degrees) | 67 260 | 5,7 | 1,2 | 4,5 | |
| University education (Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees) | 66 797 | 5,4 | 0,7 | 4,7 | |
The database tables of these statistics contain information on discontinuation of studies by sector of education in different fields of education and regions.
More information related to the progress of studies is available from statistics describing Progress of studies and Employment of students.
Discontinuation also decreased slightly in apprenticeship training. The number of students having discontinued apprenticeship training during and after the probationary period was lower than in a couple of previous years. In all, 659 students discontinued apprenticeship training during the four-month probationary period in 2016, which is 1.3 per cent of all students in apprenticeship training. A total of 3,223 students discontinued apprenticeship training after the probationary period, which is 6.3 per cent of all students in apprenticeship training. The total number of students in apprenticeship training was 50,788 in 2016.
A total of 387 students had discontinued studies in one way or another in comprehensive school during the 2016/2017 academic year. The number of those who had completely dropped out from compulsory education in the spring term was 73 and those over the age of compulsory education having left school without a leaving certificate from comprehensive school was 314. Forty per cent of all school drop-outs were girls. The number of girls among those who had completely dropped out from compulsory education was 40, and 113 among those having left comprehensive school without a leaving certificate.
The statistics describe the discontinuation of post-comprehensive school education leading to a qualification. Data concerning discontinuation in the academic year 2015/2016 have been obtained by examining the situation of students in September 2016 having attended education in September 2015. If a person has not continued education or obtained a qualification during this period, he/she is counted as having discontinued education. In order to calculate the discontinuation, students have been followed in a certain logical order where completion of a qualification is always prioritised above studying. The calculation of discontinuation is described in more detail in the quality description (only in Finnish).
Source: Education. Statistics Finland
Inquiries: Heli Hiltunen 029 551 3314, koulutustilastot@stat.fi
Director in charge: Jari Tarkoma
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Appendix tables
- Appendix table 1. Discontinuation of education in upper secondary general, vocational, university of applied sciences and university education in academic years 2000/2001 to 2015/2016, % (14.3.2018)
- Appendix table 2. Comprehensive school drop-outs in academic years 1999/2000 to 2016/2017 (14.3.2018)
Updated 14.3.2018
Official Statistics of Finland (OSF):
Discontinuation of education [e-publication].
ISSN=1798-9302. 2016. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 27.12.2024].
Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/kkesk/2016/kkesk_2016_2018-03-14_tie_001_en.html