Chinese school proposed for Helsinki
Knowledge of Chinese in greater demand in Finland
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A recent survey reveals that Finns working in international markets, as well as immigrants to Finland, want a Chinese school in the Helsinki area.
"The families understand the importance of knowing Chinese when their companies assign them to work in China. A Chinese school would also attract more immigrant families over here", says Eeva Penttilä, head of international affairs of the Education Department of the City of Helsinki.
Penttilä is the spokesperson of a work group that is investigating the need for education in foreign languages around the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. The work group conducted an extensive survey, with half of the answerers Finnish and half foreign. Some were people working at foreign embassies.
"Everyone is in favour of having instruction in Chinese in addition to the English, French, German, and Russian schools that already exist", Penttilä recounts. "The best way for this would be a joint venture with all of the municipalities in the area participating."
This view is receiving support from many directions. Deputy Mayor Ilkka-Christian Björklund says that a new international trend depends on the possibility of receiving education in Chinese. He says that he proposed this for the first time a few years ago in a Helsinki City Council strategy seminar.
Former Prime Minister Esko Aho also strongly believes that knowledge of Chinese is important for Finns in today's world. He says that he has discussed the matter corporate executives and economic organisations.
"China has tremendous growth potential, and the demand for Chinese-speaking Finns is great", Aho points out. "Simple knowledge of the language is not enough, one must also be familiar with the culture and customs. They can only be learned if the elementary education is already in Chinese."
Aho says that a Chinese school should be set up as soon as possible.
"When you start a school, it takes 10-15 years for the results to show."
He refers to the existence of ready models for education in a foreign language in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. "It would be natural for there to be an Asian language school alongside the European ones."
Helsinki and Beijing have already made plans for cooperation.
"Ressu Upper Secondary School has had student exchange with Beijing, and a similar program is soon to begin in vocational schools. Cooking students will travel to Beijing in September with the Culinary Art program, and Chinese students will come to Finland to study European cooking", says Eeva Penttilä.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 22.8.2006 - TODAY |
 Chinese school proposed for Helsinki |
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