National defence education is an elective subject at the upper secondary school level (70 hours) and an elective module in vocational education curricula (2.5 ECVET, including outdoor camp).
National defence education relies on community values, above all patriotism and the development of a sense of responsibility, so that youth would mature into ethical, responsible and active members of society.
Since it is an elective, national defence is voluntary for students; however, schools must be able to ensure the teaching of the subject. The school may decide itself whether national defence education is a mandatory or voluntary subject in upper secondary school.
The topics of national defence education are integrated with several subjects. For example, military history, chemical weapons of mass destruction and civil protection and geography and topography. In this way the national defence class provides a real world opportunity to test the percentage task or the calculation of distance between two points covered in mathematics, when orientating by reading a map. In addition, national defence instruction introduces conscript service and helps to prepare for it.
Once 35 hours of theory have been completed in the classroom, students are able to participate in an outdoor camp (also 35 hours), which is organised with the support of the Defence Forces or the Defence League, so that students are able to experience life in the armed forces and discipline.
In the majority of schools national defence education is provided by experts in their respective field – both officers as well as non-commissioned officers (both active duty and reserves) and active members of the Defence League.
National defence education has been listed as an elective in the national curriculum of upper secondary schools since 2011, and as a separate elective module in vocational education institutions since 2018.
Schools teaching national defence education are eligible to apply for monetary assistance from the Defence Resources Agency for organising outdoor camps and field trips and acquiring teaching aids, to ensure that national defence classes are interesting and comprehensive.