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Basic education refers to the general education for children between 7 and 16 years of age. It consists of year levels 1–9. Basic education is free of charge and aims to prepare and qualify students for secondary education. Further goals and the contents of basic education are defined in the curriculum.
In Turku, basic education is available in Finnish, Swedish and English in city-owned schools. In addition to the schools owned by the City of Turku, there are privately owned schools in the area.
A student’s home address determines which school they will attend.
There are various options for children’s day care in Turku:
• municipal day care and family day care
• private day care, family day care and group family day care
You can apply for a place for your child in day care using our electronic service. Please send your application at least four months before your child is due to start day care.
There are many different options for language education in Turku. For example, you can study languages as a part of your studies in degree-oriented learning institutions, alongside work as blended or distance learning, or as a hobby at the Finnish Adult Education Centre of Turku or the Swedish Adult Education Centre of Turku.
What can you study in Turku?
Parents always have the responsibility to teach their child to move safely in traffic. The way to school should be acquainted together with the child well beforehand.
School transportation is primarily provided with the City's public transportation bus card. The card can be loaded at the Public Transportation Service Office, Aurakatu 5.
Morning activities can be organised between 7:30 and 10:00 if at least 10 children participate in the activities. Morning activities may be terminated during the school year if the number of children permanently decreases to less than 10. Afternoon activities are organised between 11 and 17.
The activities are organised by the city, clubs, parishes and organisations in the vicinity of schools. Children are insured during the activities.
Family day care is organized at the childminder’s home.
In three-family day care 1–4 families form a circle. The children and the municipal childminder stay at each family’s home in turn. The family purchases and prepares the meals for the day, and the city in turn compensates for this. If needed, the city can borrow necessary equipment, for example a twin stroller.
The maximum size of a group for both forms of day care is four children, including the childminder’s own children.
With many professions and hobbies, the authorities require a certificate of attendance on certain, often safety-related, courses.
In the adult education centre you can find courses, for example, for the following certificates: security steward, hygiene passport, first aid, Hot Work and navigation.
Students are selected into the visual arts classes from all of Turku's school districts. Studies in the visual arts begin from third grade and continue throughout comprehensive school. The goals of art studies include:
Playschool and outdoor playschool activities are intended for children aged 3–5 years. The options are outdoor playschool, which lets the child experience nature and physical exercise, and indoor playschool. Activities are organized and target at supporting the growth and development of the child. One playschool teacher organizes the activities but there may also be other staff members participating if needed.
Activities for children aged 1.5–6 are organized at playgrounds on weekdays between 9.00 and 12.30.
To let your child play safely outdoors together with other children supervised by the playground attendants, please enroll via eVaka. Also please note that there will be no playground activities if temperature is -12 degrees Celsius or below.
Playground activities do not affect the day care allowances of Kela (the Social Insurance Institution of Finland). Playground activities are free of charge.
The aim of the physical education class is to
- increase the possibilities to offer positive experiences to students interested and gifted in sports
- develop the students' basic skills
- introduce the students to different forms of exercise and different sports in cooperation with sport federations and local clubs
Turku Vocational Institute prepares students for careers in 40 different professions. We offer vocational education to students of all ages. With us, you can pursue a basic vocational degree, a vocational qualification or a specialist vocational qualification.
Vocational education is a gateway into both a professional career and further studies. Our education is meant for anyone willing to pursue a vocational degree, further their expertise or career, change fields or find a job. Due to the continuous application period, you can apply throughout the year.
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 Evening High School of Turku (Turun iltalukio) is an upper secondary education school meant for adults where it is possible to finish basic education studies, get the general upper secondary education certificate, pass the Finnish Matriculation Examination or to study single subjects (e.g. languages).
Study options: