Immigrant families struggle to secure quality education for their children in Finland
In some municipalities students must meet both English and Finnish language requirements to enroll in English-speaking classes. PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK
Summer Ashraf Abounar
Published 12.11.2024 3:17
In 2023, over 73,000 people immigrated to Finland. Many of them would prefer English language education for their children. The parents feel it would give their children more options, should they have to live Finland due to limited job opportunities.
However, as demand grows, so do the barriers – waiting lists, limited seats, and strict language requirements. Securing a spot in an English-speaking school is competitive, especially outside major cities. Many immigrant families face long waits and limited options, as most English-speaking schools are concentrated in urban areas.
“We waited a year and a half before my kids could join the English Speaking Playschool of Oulu,” shares an Egyptian mother who lives in Oulu since 2021.
“Oulu International School (OIS) is the only English-speaking basic education school here with limited seats and an English requirement. The wait was worth it since pre-education in English helped my kids pass OIS’s entrance exam.”
Jenni Alaniemi, Principal of OIS, confirms the challenge: “Our classes cap at 25 students in lower grades and 27 in upper grades. Students must also pass an English language test, and if too many do, they end up on a waiting list.”
For families in Finland only temporarily, enrolling in an international education can be especially hard. Jenni adds that a transition class exists for such cases, but it accommodates only 10 students.
Good English skills are not always enough
In Finland, Schools offering English education must meet national education standards set by the Finnish National Agency for Education. Municipalities have some control over whether and how to offer these programs, choosing languages and formats like bilingual or language-enriched options based on local funding and demand. Cities with more international residents often prioritize language diversity.
In Jyväskylä, having good English skills alone isn’t enough for immigrant children to enter English-language education, as Finnish language proficiency is often required.
Satakieli interviewed one mother, who moved from Saudi Arabia to Finland four years ago. She wanted to enroll her son to the Kortepohja Elementary School, the only elementary school with English-speaking classes in Jyväskylä.
Turned out, that the city required students to meet both specific English and Finnish language levels. Even though her son had strong English skills, he still needed to spend a full year learning Finnish to be able to join the English-language class.
“It was challenging,” she says. While her son managed to achieve the required level in one year, many students struggled and ended up in Finnish classes.
“Our curriculum requires A1 Finnish and age-appropriate English. Children who don’t meet this are directed to preparatory education in Finnish,” confirms Pia Bärlund, who oversees English education in Jyväskylä.
“I have met parents who are disappointed that their children cannot access English-medium classes and even consider moving away from Jyväskylä because we require A1-level Finnish as a criterion.”
Bärlund believes knowing Finnish is crucial for anyone living in Finland.
“If children only speak English, it limits their opportunities in higher education, where a C1-C2 level in Finnish is necessary. In my opinion, if someone lives in another country, they should learn the local language as well.”
Challenges beyond basic education
In cities like Helsinki and Espoo, English-speaking schools are somewhat more accessible, but demand remains high. The problem is that the options narrow after basic education.
“In Uusimaa, English high school options are limited, primarily to the IB program,” says Samah Zain. She is a mother of three originally from Yemen but has been living in Finland since 2016.
IB (International Baccalaureate) is also what she chose for her children. But it was not a solution without problems.
“While IB is a good option, it didn’t help my children build strong Finnish skills. And because English-language bachelor’s programs are rare, mainly in IT, it forces many top students, like my daughter, to study abroad for fields like Biology.”
At least as big of an issue is that enrolling to the Finnish speaking education may not lead to better results. Many immigrant students gain only basic Finnish in elementary school and struggle as they progress.
A University of Jyväskylä study reveals that over 60 percent of first-generation immigrant students performed poorly in basic skills such as reading. That often limits their access to higher education.
Samah thinks that the problem is that many immigrant children are placed in “S2” (Finnish as a second language) if they speak another language at home.
“S2 often means simplified assignments, which don’t prepare students for middle and high school, and separating them from native speakers hinders integration.”
“The Finnish education system isn’t tailored for immigrant children. If changes aren’t made, we risk a generation falling behind.”
Samah believes this isn’t just an immigrant family issue – it’s a problem for Finland.
“With an aging population, Finland needs a skilled young generation. If immigrant children aren’t prepared with strong skills and quality education, the whole society will feel the impact.”