Preparatory teaching for basic education

Preparatory teaching for basic education is meant for all pre-primary and comprehensive school age children and youth that do not yet have the necessary language skills to study in basic education. Children and youth with an immigrant background that have either recently moved to Finland or been born in Finland can receive preparatory teaching. Children from bilingual families or returnees can also participate. A residence permit is not needed. 

Preparatory teaching can be arranged in group form or inclusively in basic and pre-primary education groups. Group form preparatory education is given in a few different schools in Joensuu, while inclusive preparatory education is given in almost all schools and kindergartens according to the pupils’ needs. Inclusive teaching pupils study with their own age group in a basic education group and receive additional Finnish language teaching.

Each pupil has an own study programme which determines the objectives of the pupil’s study, the subjects that will be studied, study hours and content. Furthermore, the programme includes the student’s integration into the pre-primary or basic education groups according to the age as well as the arrangement of guidance and further support measures. 

A central part of the teaching is the development of the pupil’s language skills as well as the necessary skills for further education. Learning vocabulary, concepts and phrases related to study and school life is central. In addition, balanced development and integration into the Finnish society is supported. This includes Finnish culture, for example holidays and traditions, as well as nature and environment. Teaching utilizes functional and experiential learning environments, diverse teaching methods and the use of language in various communication environments.

During the teaching, students are integrated according to their study programme into the teaching groups corresponding to their age levels. Typically, arts and sports are studied with the basic education groups. The study of a foreign language can also begin during preparatory teaching. The objectives of other school subjects follow the national core curriculum objectives where applicable. The use of language as a support for learning requires both language-oriented subject teaching and subject-oriented language teaching.

Preparatory teaching can be supported, when possible, with the student’s mother tongue and mother tongue teaching. Preparatory class students are encouraged to use the languages they know in diverse ways when studying different subjects and in other school activities. The study and use of their own mother tongue help the student assimilate the subjects’ objectives and content. It is important for the student to learn to communicate about school and study-related topics in their mother tongue as well.

After preparatory education

The extent of preparatory teaching corresponds the syllabus of one school year. Six to ten-year-olds receive 900 hours of teaching and older students at least 1000 hours. A pupil may transfer to pre-primary or basic education even before the preparatory teaching hours are completed if (s)he is assessed to have the necessary skills.

At the end of the preparatory education, pupils are given a participation certificate which describes the extent and content of the teaching as well as the pupil’s progress.

After preparatory teaching, the pupil transfers to basic education to a local school. Typically, this is one of the schools close to the home address. If (s)he followed inclusive preparatory teaching, (s)he may be able to continue in the same group and school. Besides the regular curriculum of basic education, a pupil may receive teaching in Finnish as a second language, in own religion and in mother tongue. In addition, assistance and support in other subjects may be needed.