When starting TUVA, learners do not have to know whether they want to continue to general or vocational upper secondary education. The goal is to find a direction for further studies and to improve the skills necessary for continuing to upper secondary level, such as suitable study skills, life management skills or language skills.

In Finland, compulsory education was extended to upper secondary education and the minimum school leaving age was raised from 16 to 18 in 2021. Since August 2022, it has been possible to study in a new programme called preparatory education for programmes leading to an upper secondary qualification, TUVA (in Finnish: tutkintokoulutukseen valmistava koulutus). It combines the former voluntary additional basic education, also known as 10th grade, with preparatory education for vocational education and training (VALMA) and preparatory education for general upper secondary education (LUVA). 

TUVA is designed both for learners under 18 and for adults who have not completed upper secondary education.

An individual study plan is drawn up together with each learner, based on their goals and competence needs. Study and career planning is an education and training unit common to all. In addition, the learner chooses at least two different units. These may include, for example, general or vocational upper secondary studies, everyday skills and social participation, or working life skills and workplace education and training. Learners can also improve their primary and lower secondary education certificate grades.

The studies last up to a year, but it is possible to transfer to vocational or general upper secondary education as soon as learners have achieved the necessary skills and received a student place in upper secondary education.

The Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI) has drawn up the objectives and contents for TUVA, as well as instructions for evaluation. EDUFI also offers a tool for education providers to formulate their implementation plans.

More information (in Finnish):

Opetushallitus: Mitä on tutkintokoulutukseen valmentava koulutus (TUVA)? https://www.oph.fi/fi/koulutus-ja-tutkinnot/mita-tutkintokoulutukseen-valmentava-koulutus-tuva

Source: Eurydice Unit Finland