Basic adult education Basic adult education corresponds to the nine-year compulsory basic school. This education is intended to provide a basis for the community participation, vocational activity and further study. The level at which studies begin depends on the initial qualifications of each individual student. Studies are concluded when the individual education targets have been achieved. Students decide their own rate of progress, and in this way studies can be combined with employment or work experiences.
Basic education is a right for the individual and is mandatory for the municipalities.
Upper secondary schooling Adult upper secondary schooling and upper secondary schooling for young persons have the same syllabi and, as from 1994, the same curriculum. Adult education is the equivalent of youth upper secondary school but not identical to it. Municipal adult education is made up of courses, and the courses in the different subjects follow on from each other. The qualifications of the adult students must be adequately supplemented to raise them to the same standard as those of young persons. The courses provided can, however, differ from those in youth upper secondary education as regards emphasis, content and scope.