Helsinki Day Care Services intensifies teaching Finnish to immigrant children

Teachers in Helsinki schools worry about first-graders unable to speak or understand Finnish

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The City of Helsinki Day Care Services are in the process of intensifying their efforts to teach Finnish to children with an immigrant background.
      Some time ago, the number of kindergarten teachers with the Finnish-as-second-language (S2) qualification was reduced. Instead, the entire staffs of day-care centres are now being encouraged to get involved in developing the bilingual aspect of the services.
      Day care consultant Nina Onufriew of the City of Helsinki Social Services Department explains that when child day-care services became one of the spheres of responsibilities, it was soon discovered that resources for such services vary greatly from one city district to another.
      "The staff were found to lack confidence in their ability to teach Finnish. They would rather wait for the S2 teacher to come and tutor the children of foreign background in a separate room. This, however, does not support our principles", Onufriew points out.
      "Our campaign puts emphasis on every educator's ability to encourage children to communicate in everyday situations."
      An S2 plan has been drawn up for the city's day-care services. As a result, teaching for all the children is now more methodical.
     
Owing to budget constraints, the number of S2 teachers was reduced from 12 to five a couple of years ago. This was possible, because the S2 services were not statutory, explains Mervi Piirainen, chairperson of the Helsinki Kindergarten Teachers.
      According to Piirainen, a working group will suggest that 15 positions for S2 teachers be restored in Helsinki. This would aid in ensuring that none of the children with foreign backgrounds become marginalised. When entering school, they would know what to expect there.
      According to Onufriew, the number of S2 teachers has not been decided on yet. "We could use a few more, but even with the present number we are able to develop the services."
      The reduction in S2 teachers on the kindergarten level has already had a knock-on effect on schools. Teachers have reported first-graders who do not speak a word of Finnish.
     
Many schools in Helsinki offer a preparatory class for children with an immigrant background. According to teachers, numerous parents are taken aback by the idea of having their child in a special class.
      Teaching consultant Katri Kuukka of the City of Helsinki Education Department says a preparatory class is not a bad thing. A third of the just under 300 students in preparatory classes in Helsinki are first-graders.
      "After the first year in a preparatory class, the pupil can move directly on to the second grade. So, the overall time in school will not be prolonged."
      In the coming weeks, material developed in cooperation between teachers from Helsinki and other municipalities will be published to aid schools to evaluate the linguistic development of pupils.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Immigration could soon account for half of Finlands population growth (12.4.2005)
  In Helsinki every fifth child in day care has one parent staying at home (20.9.2004)
  Opinions in Helsinki split over right to day care (7.9.2004)

Links:
  Association of Kindergarten Teachers in Finland
  City of Helsinki Education Department

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