The 'Spirit of the Times': Fast Policy for Educational Reform in Finland

Autor/inn/en	Hardy, Ian; Heikkinen, Hannu; Pennanen, Matti; Salo, Petri; Kiilakoski, Tomi
Titel	The 'Spirit of the Times': Fast Policy for Educational Reform in Finland
Quelle	In: Policy Futures in Education, 19 (2021) 7, S.770-791 (22 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Zusatzinformation	ORCID (Hardy, Ian)
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1478-2103
DOI	10.1177/1478210320971530
Schlagwörter	Educational Policy; Educational Change; Vocational Education; Neoliberalism; Policy Analysis; Government Publications; Journal Articles; News Reporting; Foreign Countries; Educational Trends; Outcomes of Education; Human Capital; Early Childhood Education; Policy Formation; Privatization; Elementary Secondary Education; Finland + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Politics of education; Bildungspolitik; Bildungsreform; Ausbildung; Berufsbildung; Neo-liberalism; Neoliberalismus; Politikfeldanalyse; Journal article; Zeitschriftenaufsatz; News report; Reportage; Ausland; Bildungsentwicklung; Lernleistung; Schulerfolg; Humankapital; Early childhood; Education; Frühkindliche Bildung; Frühpädagogik; Politische Betätigung; Privatisation; Privatisierung; Finnland
Abstract	This article examines the nature of neoliberal influences upon educational policy making in the Finnish education system in recent times. The article draws upon key policy documents, government reports, journal articles and media articles about reforms in the early childhood, basic/compulsory school and vocational education and training sectors to evidence these processes. Analytically, these reforms are understood as instances of what has been referred to as 'fast policy'. Methodologically, we draw upon principles of zeitgeist analysis to reveal the features and effects of these fast policy influences as they relate to educational provision in Finland. These features and effects include intensification and fragmentation of educational reform processes, increased individualisation and decontextualization of the educational reform agenda, and a trend towards increased instability, privatisation and reduction in funding for educational provision. The article foregrounds the features and effects as reflective of the 'spirit of the times' in which such reforms are undertaken, and cautions against these fast policy effects for the problematic consequences they appear to be having upon policy making processes, educational outcomes in Finland and the 'spirits' of Finnish educators. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01