Finnish Education for Refugee and Immigrant Students
Finland supports children with an immigrant background through preparatory education, known as valmistava opetus, before they join a mainstream classroom. Here is how it works and what it aims to achieve.
- Finland provides preparatory instruction, valmistava opetus, for children with an immigrant background who do not yet know enough Finnish or Swedish to study in a mainstream class.
- Pupils aged 6 to 10 receive a minimum of 900 hours of preparatory instruction, and older pupils a minimum of 1,000 hours, typically delivered over about one school year.
- Each pupil gets an individual learning plan, drawn up by the school's student counsellor, class teacher, special needs teacher or Finnish-as-a-second-language teacher, setting out which subjects to study and at what pace.
- Organising preparatory education is a municipal decision rather than a national mandate, so provision is concentrated in cities such as Helsinki, Espoo and Tampere.
What preparatory education covers
During valmistava opetus, pupils study Finnish or Swedish alongside the key concepts of other school subjects, rather than sitting outside the curriculum entirely. The aim is narrow and practical: build enough language and subject grounding for the transition into pre-primary, primary or lower secondary education, not to deliver a parallel curriculum indefinitely.
An individual plan, not a fixed programme
Every pupil in preparatory education receives an individual learning plan covering their specific subjects and pace, prepared jointly by staff such as the class teacher, a special needs teacher or a Finnish-as-a-second-language specialist. This mirrors the same individualised, needs based thinking behind Finland's three-tier support system, applied here to language and integration rather than learning difficulties.
Moving into the mainstream classroom
Preparatory education usually lasts about one year, after which a pupil is transferred into an ordinary class matched to their age. Ongoing language support does not stop there: many pupils continue to receive multilingual learner and ESL support within their mainstream classroom well beyond the preparatory stage.
Frequently asked questions
What is valmistava opetus?
It is Finland's preparatory education for children with an immigrant background, focused on building enough Finnish or Swedish language skill, alongside key subject concepts, to join a mainstream class.
How long does preparatory education usually last?
Typically around one school year, with a minimum of 900 hours of instruction for pupils aged 6 to 10 and 1,000 hours for older pupils.
Is preparatory education available in every Finnish municipality?
No. Municipalities decide whether to organise it, so it is most consistently available in larger cities such as Helsinki, Espoo and Tampere rather than guaranteed nationwide.
Do pupils get extra support after they join the mainstream class?
Often, yes. Many continue to receive Finnish-as-a-second-language teaching and other multilingual learner support once they move into an ordinary classroom.
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