Socially important work is carried out in the teaching and education sector
There is a mismatch between a few professions in the teaching and education sector. This means that there are unemployed job seekers in the sector, but also open jobs. There is a shortage of employees especially in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area and other growth centres. The employee shortage is particularly prominent among kindergarten teachers, special needs teachers, and teachers of less common languages and mathematical subjects.
They say that it takes a village to raise a child. A significant part in this is played by the pillars of our society, namely professionals in the teaching and education sector. Work in the teaching and education sector entails a great deal of responsibility, but it is also rewarding. In their work, the professionals get to monitor children’s development and support them in it.
High-quality early childhood education and care provides children with a safe and healthy environment that fosters development
It is the task of early childhood education and care professionals to support home upbringing through basic care, play and teaching. Early childhood education and care can be organised in day-care centres, family day care, group family day care, or as other forms of play and activity guidance.
You can train, for example, as a practical nurse in the field of early childhood education and care at upper secondary vocational institutions where you complete a vocational qualification in social and health care, specialising in the care and education of children and young people. When you have a practical nurse’s degree, you can work as a children’s instructor. You can also specialise in early childhood education and care in social studies at a university of applied sciences. Once the studies have been completed, you are qualified to work as a social worker in early childhood education and care. After completing a degree in early childhood education and care at a university, you can work as a kindergarten teacher.
The role of an educator is emphasised in the work of teaching and education professionals
The education sector has the duty to provide children and young people with capabilities to function in the changing society and to support their growth as human beings and members of society. Teaching can be divided into general education, vocational education, higher education and adult education.
The education required in the field of teaching depends on the level of education and the type of institution in which the work is carried out. As a rule, all teachers are required to have a higher education degree. For example, in order to qualify as a class teacher, you will need a master’s degree in education completed at a university. The major subject may be either educational science or educational psychology. The profession of subject teacher in basic education or general upper secondary school requires a master’s degree in the subject to be taught, as well as teacher’s pedagogical studies.
Prepare yourself for the joint application process of this spring
As the joint application process of this spring approaches, you can learn more about the experiences and stories of health care professionals at Job Market Finland and possibly find a suitable profession for you. For those interested in these jobs, the career stories and interviews give a good idea of the work tasks in these professions and the best and most challenging aspects of the work.
These are the important dates for the joint application process for the spring:
- The application period for post-basic education is 20 February – 19 March 2024.
- The first joint application period for higher education is 3–17 January 2024.
- The second joint application period for higher education is 13–27 March 2024.
Read more
- Professional field: Education, teaching and training
- Career story: Markus' story
- Career story: Kaija's story
- Interview: Private teacher
- Interview: Student counsellor
- Interview: Professor, psychology