Finnish high school can soon be in English – as a condition of lack of language skills

Finnish It is possible to start high school education in English next fall, says National Board of Education. New English education can only be taken as a student if the person is inadequate in Finnish or Swedish.

It is possible to carry out English -language baccalaureate exams from 2028 onwards.

Parliament approved Last December, legislative changes that enable Finnish high school education in English.

Last week, the National Board of Education announced the basics of the English curriculum, which are in line with the basics of Finnish and Swedish high school education. Thus, in Finnish high school, English students are offered a whole menu menu in Finnish upper secondary education.

Certain Finnish upper secondary schools will continue to be able to study in English in accordance with the global IB Diploma Program. Most of the IB studies focusing on six subjects will be subjected to an international final exam.

National Board of Education According to the release, the reform is intended to strengthen Finland’s attractiveness among international actors and returnees. The reform is also aimed at improving the cultural rights of students who are skilled in Finland or Sweden poorly.

If the upper secondary school aims to start English-language upper secondary education in the fall of 2026, the training provider must draw up local English curricula and apply for a permit for the training of the Ministry of Education and Culture in the fall of this year.

« Probably English -language upper secondary education is initially offered in high schools in large cities and provincial centers and adult high schools with sufficient demand for this education, » says the Counselor of Education, Head of Unit Petri Lehikoinen In the announcement of the National Board of Education.

To the legal text The recorded « inadequate language skills to perform high school education in Swedish or Finnish » is limited to the duration of previous basic education or living in Finland.

You can only apply for English -language upper secondary education for young people if you have completed three years or less of basic education studies within the meaning of the Basic Education Act. You can only apply for English adult high school education if you have lived in Finland for three years or less.

If the three -year limits mentioned above are exceeded, only a « particularly weighty reason » can be taken as a student.

English -language upper secondary education and baccalaureate are not intended for those arriving from third countries in Finland for study purposes. If the applicant is not a citizen of the EU Member State or a State of the European Economic Area, a residence permit other than studying is required to apply for a upper secondary school.