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You can check when the service you require is in your language, book an appointment, register for work and education skills mapping, or language groups.
Available in English and Finnish
Reserve time for:
- Law Advisor: Mon- Tue 12–16, Wed 9–13
- Social guidance: Mon 9 –13, Thu 9-12, and Wed 13–16
- Business Advisor: Mon 13–16, Tue 12-16 pm and Wed 9–13
- Study Advisor for Secondary Education: Wed 9–12
- Study Advisor for University of Applied Sciences/ SIMHE (every other week): Wed 12–16
We will help you get started if you are newly arrived in Turku by setting up a plan to help you settle in smoothly. We can guide you in finding a job, networking, Finnish courses, finding a place to live, and getting to know services that The City of Turku provides (including child care and free time activities).
Service is only available in English.
Walk-in times: Tue noon to 4 pm and Thur1pm to 4 pm
With reservations: mon 9 am to 1 pm
E-mail: jonathon.murphy@turku.fi
When a student whose native language is not Finnish or Swedish starts in basic education, a syllabus of either Finnish as a Second Language and Literature (S2) or Swedish as a Second Language and Literature (R2) will be chosen for him/her. The aim of the syllabus is to support the development of the child’s Finnish or Swedish skills.
The child can also study together with children who study Finnish or Swedish as a native language.
Native language education is aimed at students whose native language is not Finnish or Swedish and is meant to strengthen their linguistic skills and cultural identity. Students who have learned the language while living abroad can also participate in native language education.
Native language education is available in over twenty different languages, and classes typically take place after the school day in selected schools.
For school years 1–6 guidance counselling is given during subject teaching and other school activities.
For school years 7–9 guidance counselling is its own subject.
The key tasks of a guidance counselor:
- Guidance of growth and development
- Guidance of studying and studying skills
- Guidance of occupational orientation
- Guidance to post-graduate studies
A disabled child or a child with special educational needs has the right to get the interpretation and assistance services, other educational services and special aids he or she needs free of charge in order to participate in the education. (Section 31 of the Basic Education Act) The assistance services needed by the schools are decided upon a request from the schools each year.
On schooldays the student gets a warm meal between 10.00 and 12.00. The meal covers approximately one third of a person’s daily food requirements.
Kaarea Oy sells snacks in secondary schools and in upper secondary schools when it is allowed. List of schools and information about snacks and payment options are available in Finnish.
A student will be offered a special diet if the reason is medical, religious or ethical.
For personal advice on matters important to you, seek out Infotori. Infotori is located at the Skanssi shopping centre, as is Monitori.
Infotori provides advice for, among other matters, the following:
- finances and social security
- matters concerning residence permits and citizenship
- working life
- housing
- education
- legal questions
- assistance with documents and in filling in forms
Advice is available on weekdays for the following day care issues:
- municipal and private day care
- playgrounds and playschools
- drop-in day care centres
Service counsellors are available 9-12:
- by phone: 02 262 5610
- by email: varhaiskasvatus@turku.fi
- Early Childhood Education Chat
- Market Square Monitori 9 - 15.30 (on Wednesday 9 - 12)
The Finnish Adult Education Centre of Turku, owned by the City of Turku, is an education centre where you can study general, recreational and social studies. The centre is politically and ideologically independent.
The Finnish Adult Education Centre of Turku offers a large selection of high quality courses: it organises around 850–900 courses and lecture series per year.
General customer service centres Turku-piste and Monitori provide guidance on the different types of services available in Turku. For example, services related to sports, well-being and education have their individual help desks that offer more in-depth information.
At Turku-piste, you can find information on
- the city’s services and decisions
- various other matters, including housing, construction and repairs
Monitori Joint Services functions as a joint service centre for
In Turku, children attend one year of preschool education before their compulsory education starts.
• Preschool education groups operate both in day care centres and schools.
• There is four hours of preschool education per day between 8 and 13.
• The preschool education follows the preschool curriculum of the City of Turku.
• The contact information given is for the day care centre itself even if it is located within a school’s facilities.
• You will find the contact information for the day care centres in the “Units” section.
There are two Swedish language immersion groups in Kerttuli Day Care Unit: one for 5-year olds and one preschool education group. The used format is early and complete immersion.
There is one upper secondary school in Turku where education is given in Swedish: Katedralskolan i Åbo.
The Swedish Language Section of Education Committee is responsible for Swedish language services. The Swedish language services are directed by Liliane Kjellman.
VALMO is meant for students whose native languages are not Finnish or Swedish and prepares them for basic education. The students learn Finnish and other skills for approximately a year before transferring to local schools.
Students whose native languages are not Finnish or Swedish can choose between Finnish as a Second Language and Literature or Swedish as Second Language and Literature (S2).
OMO is education given in students’ native languages.
Special day care is for children with impaired possibilities for development, growth and learning. Discovering the child’s need for support at an early stage will contribute favourably to the child’s growth.
The supporting measures are usually organized in the child’s own day care centre or family day care. A child’s rehabilitation plan will be made for the child together with parents, day care personnel and other professionals. The day care personnel are responsible for compiling and implementing the plan.
Types of special group arrangements:
Municipal day care centres are open between 6am and 6 pm. If the child needs day care outside these hours, for example because of the parents' work or study schedule, this is called shift care.
If the child needs day care, in addition to weekdays, at evenings, nights and weekends, this is called around-the-clock care. Night care means that the child needs care on weekdays between 6 pm and 10 pm.
The needed hours for care must be filled in on the care hour form and handed in by 12am the previous monday.
When it comes to foreign-language classes, the main focus is on achieving a comfortable level of using a foreign-language in different situations, subjects and concepts. The language is not being taught per se; instead, the foreign language is used to learn a subject matter.
In foreign-language classes, the first two years emphasise understanding the language and building a foundation for foreign-language competence. Reading and writing skills are taught in the students' mother tongue (Finnish). The share of foreign-language instruction is approximately 50%.
The Swedish language class offers an intensive immersion possibility for all students who are native speakers of Finnish, as the class teacher's mother tongue is Swedish, which he/she uses in teaching for all subjects and lessons 100% for the first two years. Pupils also learn to read and write in Swedish. The use of Finnish in teaching increases from third grade onwards from 30% up to 50% in the fifth and sixth grades. Finnish lessons and other subjects that require Finnish are taught by another teacher who speaks Finnish as his/her mother tongue.
When it comes to foreign-language classes, the main focus is on achieving a comfortable level of using a foreign language in different situations, subjects and concepts. The language is not being taught per se; instead, the foreign language is used to learn a subject matter.
In foreign-language classes, the first two years emphasise understanding the language and building a foundation for foreign-language competence. Reading and writing skills are taught in the students' mother tongue (Finnish). The share of foreign-language instruction is approximately 50%.
The Russian foreign-language class is now known as the Finnish-Russian class. Finnish- as well as Russian-speaking students may enrol in this class at the same time.
Instruction is given mostly in Finnish, but Russian language and culture are emphasised in the curriculum.
In the Finnish-Russian class, reading and writing instruction is initially conducted in Finnish. Russian-language reading- and writing skills are taught from third grade on when formal Russian education begins.
In Turku, you can attend upper secondary school either in Finnish-speaking day upper secondary schools or in the Evening High School of Turku. Swedish-speaking upper secondary school education is offered by the school Katedralskolan i Åbo and English-speaking education by Turku International School.
In addition to these schools owned by the City of Turku, upper secondary school education is also offered by the Teacher Training School of Turku University and by Turku Steiner School.
Enrollment in a mathematics class is open to students who are interested in mathematics and wish to deepen and expand their mathematics skills. In general, mathematics classes adhere to the school's general mathematics curriculum, except that students will probe matters deeper and wider in any given situation.
Music classes provide students with readiness and inspiration for taking a comprehensive interest in music. Instruction begins with singing and playing musical instruments. A student starting out in a music class will need enthusiasm for singing, an ear for music, and a sense of rhythm. Previous ability to play an instrument or studies in music theory are not required.
Instruction consists of:
- Singing
- Playing musical instruments together
- Music theory and ear training
- Listening to music