Kuopio received nearly €200 000 for the development of Finnish as a second language teaching

The City of Kuopio’s basic education has received a government grant of €199 530 from the Finnish National Agency for Education to develop Finnish as a second language (S2) teaching. The project, which will begin in autumn 2026, aims to strengthen students’ Finnish language learning, establish more consistent practices and improve cooperation between schools.

Approximately 9% of Kuopio’s comprehensive school pupils study Finnish as a second language. This means that their mother tongue is other than Finnish and their Finnish language skills are not yet at a native level, which is why they require instruction based on the S2 curriculum. The highest numbers of multilingual pupils are in the schools of Pyörö, Rajala, Neulamäki, Kalevala and Hatsala Classical School.

“For many pupils Finnish is very different from their native language. In S2 teaching Finnish language skills are developed in a versatile way, and vocabulary and conceptual understanding are strengthened so that the student can study and participate in everyday school life,” says coordinator Alexandra Liuha from the City of Kuopio.

In Kuopio, the aim of the project is to ensure that students receive Finnish language studies at a level appropriate to their skills. At the same time, collaboration among Finnish language teachers will be strengthened, and a clear, city-wide teaching model will be created to support cooperation.

Two S2 teaching specialists will be recruited for the project. They will design and deliver training sessions and visit schools as mentors, supporting the development of the operational culture and strengthening co-teaching practices.