Special educational line

In Vaasa the bilingual teaching English-Finnish is organized for grades 1-6 at Suvilahti School and for grades 7-9 at Merenkurkku School. In the bilingual programme English and Finnish languages are studied side by side.

The teaching at the Bilingual Line

The Bilingual education line (English-Finnish) is a school path, where the English teaching is conducted in an immersion way. The students study both in English and in Finnish, therefore the students need to know both Finnish and English language.  In Vaasa the bilingual teaching follows a full school path, that can start from English daycare, continuing through bilingual primary school (grades 1-6) and concluding with high school (grades 7-9).

The first two years at school, the students have 80% of the taught lessons in English and only 20% in Finnish. The teaching follows the principle of one teacher – one language, one teacher who teaches exclusively in Finnish and another who teaches exclusively in English. Later on the English in teaching declines, whereas the Finnish increases. When the student is in the 6th grade, the students have only 40% in English and about 60% in Finnish. During the students’ school path the amount of English taught to the students varies between 30-80% depending on the grade level.

Enrolment to the Bilingual Line

The students selected to the Bilingual line need to know both Finnish and English language. The child’s language skills in both English and Finnish will be tested. Pupils that are chosen to the Bilingual Line are expected to have the capability to fully follow both the English as well as the Finnish education. The recommendations of the sending pre-school are taken into account.

The enrolment for all grades is open throughout the academic year. For more information::

• Carolina Westermark and Jenna Wilhelmsson, 040 626 0866 ( Wednesdays 12-16), email: english.team@edu.vaasa.fi

If the application is for first grade, the enrolment takes place during the joint first graders’ school enrolment in January.

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Teaching at the English Line

The English line is an education path, where the amount of the English lessons will all the time be between 60-80 % of the taught lessons. The students will mainly study in English, but there are as well parts of the studying that are done in Finnish. In Vaasa the English teaching follows a full school path, that can start from English daycare, continuing through bilingual primary school (grades 1-6) and concluding in future with high school (grades 7-9).

The students selected to the English line need to know only English language, Finnish language skills are not required. The students’ mother tongue can be Finnish, Swedish or another language. During the first two years of studying the students have 80% of the taught lesson in English. Mother tongue teaching will be offered in Finnish, Swedish or as S2-teaching (Finnish as a second language). Please observe, that only the mother tongue subjects will be offered in Finnish, Swedish or S2. Those students that do not have sufficient Finnish language skills, will get support in the other subjects

Prepatorial teaching in the basic education

If the student will be living permanently in Finland, and does not have Finnish or Swedish language skills at the school registration, it is possible to register for the prepatorial teaching (valmistava opetus/förberedande utbildning). After requiring sufficient Finnish language skills at the prepatorial classes, the child can then move to the English line. If a family is planning to live in Finland for a longer time, we highly recommend that the students go first to the prepatorial classes in order to gain good basic Finnish language skills. This way the student has wider options for further studies in Finland (only limited options in English).

If the student will be living in Finland only temporarily, that is under three years, no prepatorial teaching is needed. If after three years the family decides to stay in Finland for a more permanent time, the student needs to go to the prepatorial classes, if the student’s Finnish language skills have not developed enough

Enrolment to the English Line

The students selected to the English line need to know English language. The child’s language skills in English will be tested. The students’ Finnish language level does not affect the selection process. However, during the registration process there will be a discussion regarding the student’s school path and how the Finnish will be learned. Pupils that are chosen to the English Line are expected to have the capability to fully follow English education and the recommendations of the sending pre-school are taken into account.

The enrolment for all grades is open throughout the academic year. For more information:

• Carolina Westermark and Jenna Wilhelmsson, 040 626 0866 ( Wednesdays 12-16), email: english.team@edu.vaasa.fi

If the application is for first grade, the enrolment takes place during the joint first graders’ school enrolment in January.

The specialised music education offered in the music-oriented classes of the Onkilahti Comprehensive School is a systematic and goal-oriented programme for grades 1–9.

How to apply for a music-oriented class

Information about the application process for the music-oriented classes will be provided on Wilma in conjunction with school enrolment in January.

As part of the 2024 application process, we are piloting a new system where selection for music-oriented classes will be based on personal interest. Additionally, pre-primary teachers will be asked to provide an assessment of the student’s readiness to study in a music-oriented class. There will be no aptitude test.

Even if a student has not started specialised music education in the first grade, they can apply for the music-oriented classes when transitioning to grades 3 and 7. An aptitude test will be arranged for students applying for the music-oriented classes. If a student wishes to discontinue their studies in the music-oriented class, they should do so when transitioning to either grade 3 or grade 7.

Teaching in the music-oriented classes

The curriculum for the music-oriented classes in Vaasa follows the national core curriculum for music education. Students are encouraged to choose their instrument with guidance from local music education providers. Music theory is taught by the music-oriented class teachers in collaboration with Kuula-opisto.

Choirs and instrumental ensembles

In addition to classroom instruction, advanced study in singing and ensemble playing takes place in the school’s choirs and instrumental ensembles, which operate as after-school clubs.

Students in the music-oriented classes gain performance experience through joint concerts and school events. Occasional performances outside of school days and collaboration with various music organisations in the city are also part of the music-oriented class programme.

In Vaasa, music-oriented classes operate at the Onkilahti Comprehensive School in grades 1–9.

Music-oriented education begins in the first grade and continues throughout the entire basic education cycle.

Swedish language immersion starts in pre-primary education at the age of 5 and continues throughout the entire basic education cycle. Students can apply for language immersion education in the first grade, even if they have not been part of a language immersion preschool group, provided there is space available. The applicant’s Swedish language skills are assessed through a language test.

Read more about Swedish language immersion in early childhood education. (in Finnish)

The goal of language immersion is to provide Finnish-speaking children with the opportunity to acquire solid skills in Swedish. In Vaasa, language immersion education is provided at Keskuskoulu School (grades 1–6), Länsimetsä School (grades 1–6) and Merenkurkku School (grades 7–9).