In Finland the same support measures that are available at other levels of education are also available in adult education. In addition there are some special measures for immigrants.

Integration training for adult migrants

The objective of integration training for migrants is to achieve functional basic proficiency in the Finnish or Swedish language, to promote migrants’ integration into Finnish society and support their active participation in it. The Integration Act lays down provisions on measures and services to promote and support integration.  A further objective is to ensure that all migrants receive information about their rights and responsibilities in Finnish society and its world of work.

Integration training includes instruction in the Finnish or Swedish language and other types of instruction geared towards promoting migrants’ access to employment and further education and training as well as their civic, cultural and life skills.

Integration training for adult migrants needs to be provided in compliance with this National Core Curriculum adopted by the Finnish National Board of Education. The Board recommends that each local training provider draw up its own curriculum on the basis of the National Core Curriculum. The local curriculum should include those items that specifically promote integration in the location concerned.

National core curriculum for integration training for adult migrants 2012

Literacy training for adult migrants

The value basis in literacy training for adult migrants is that, as a welfare state, Finland must guarantee appropriate training in reading and writing skills for everyone in need of it. Reading, writing and arithmetic form part of every citizen’s basic skills.

The objective of literacy training for adult migrants is to learn basic oral and written Finnish or Swedish language skills.

The duration of the training programme is determined in accordance with the objectives specified in each student’s individual study plan, so that the average duration is 160–200 days, depending on the student’s needs. The scope is 32–40 credits, equating to 1,120–1,400 lesson hours.

After completing the programme, students may move on to integration training, basic education for adults, employment, or activities provided by the employment and economic development administration, the local authorities or the third sector, for example.

Where a training provider offers literacy training for adult migrants, the training needs to be provided in compliance with National Core Curriculum for Literacy Training for Adult Migrants drawn up by the Finnish National Board of Education. The Board recommends that each local training provider draw up its own curriculum on the basis of the National Core Curriculum.

National core curriculum for literacy training for adult migrants 2012