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Multicultural education 

There are two language and cultural coordinators in basic education, and schools and families can consult them in all matters relating to the teaching of pupils from different language and cultural groups.

    • Finnish as a Second Language (S2) is one of the subjects under mother tongue and literature.
    • If there are gaps in the pupil’s knowledge of Finnish, the subject chosen is Finnish as a Second Language.
    • The pupil’s need for the subject of Finnish as a Second Language is determined collaboratively by the teachers who teach the pupil. The parent or guardian makes the decision on the choice of the subject.
    • The goal is to provide the pupil with sufficient language skills to live a full life in Finland and study various themes.
    • The language skills taught are listening comprehension, speaking, reading comprehension and writing.

    • Pupils may also have lessons in their mother tongue if there are at least four pupils in the group.
    • Studying their own native language will develop the pupil’s thinking and conversational skills, help them find information, value their own language and other languages and to understand their own and others’ cultures.
    • Participating in lessons in a pupil’s own mother tongue is voluntary and free.

    • If a school-age child’s Finnish is not yet good enough to learn and participate in basic education, they will start school in a class that prepares them for basic education.
    • The lessons in a class that prepares pupils for basic education are organised in a small group. The goal is to strengthen the pupil’s Finnish, support them in their development and integration in Finland and, of course, to prepare them for basic education.
    • The instruction follows the national curriculum for instruction preparing for basic education.
    •  After the instruction for preparing for basic education, the pupil will be transferred to a basic education class selected for them.

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