Espoon työväenopisto

Immigrant education

in Espoo Adult Education Centre

2015

Espoon työväenopisto

Immigrants in Finland and Espoo

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Immigrant population*

% Total

Finland 5,5 % 301 524

Espoo 12,2 % 301 524

Biggest language groups in Espoo are Russian, Estonian, English, Somali and Chinese.

* Amount of immigrant population is defined by native language (other than Finnish or Swedish). In late 2013

Espoon työväenopisto

Immigrant education

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• National liberal adult education programme 2009−2012 (Ministry of education and culture)

• Espoo strategy

• Multicultural programme 2009−2012

guiding documents for immigrant education

Espoon työväenopisto

Basic facts of immigrant education

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• 140 courses

• 11.500 lessons

• 2.200 students yearly

• 95 % Finnish for foreigners courses • 5 % other subjects, where teaching is in

English, participants immigrants and natives.

Espoon työväenopisto

• Aimed at practical language skills.

• Language levels A1−B2, Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

• Teaching in Finnish, English an auxiliary language

• Part-time and full-time studying, evening and daytime courses.

• Target groups: working people, stay-at-home mothers and fathers, foreign students, elderly, unemployed.

Finnish for foreigners courses

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Espoon työväenopisto

Integration training

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• Full-time integration training courses for recently arrived immigrants. Studies include Finnish language, knowledge of Finnish society, culture and working life and, IT skills.

• Full-time courses for analphabetic, reading and writing skills combined with handicraft and home economics.

Espoon työväenopisto

Financing of the courses

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• Financing the courses: 1/3 state subsidy (for the city), 1/3 city of Espoo, 1/3 course fees.

• Finnish National Board of Education (FNBE) grants subsidies for specific groups such as immigrants (+ unemployed and seniors).

• Development projects financed by ministries, FNBE and foundations.

• State financed (100 %) integration training for immigrants.

Espoon työväenopisto

State financed integrationtraining for immigrants

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• All immigrants with an integration plan, have a right for free integration training.

• Integration training is meant for registered job seekers. • House wives/ mothers and the elderly are not included importance of

liberal adult education institutes!• 10 adult education centres in the Helsinki region organise state financed

integration training.

• The centres compete for the immigration training.

Espoon työväenopisto

The future

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Finland• The object is to develop more coherent

integration training system especially for non job-seekers.

Espoo Adult Education Centre• Need and volume for Finnish language

courses has gone up:

– 2007: 3.676 lessons– 2012: 11.500 lessons

Espoon työväenopisto

Thank you!

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Please do not hesitate to contact us:

Espoon työväenopisto

Visiting address:Adjutantinkatu 1, 5th floor02650 Espoo

asiakaspalvelukeskus@omnia.fiPuh 020 692 444 ma−pe klo 12−15

www.espoo.fi/tyovaenopistowww.facebook.com/Espoontyovaenopisto

Tarja Lang, rehtori Course enrolment