ÅA Survival Guide 2015-2016

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We l f a r e Bene f i t s
6.2 Schools
Everyone living in Finland receives free basic
education provided by the local authority.
Basic Education, Grades 1– 9
The Ministry of Education has accepted the
grounds for the basic education curriculum.
The municipal basic education curriculum for
grades 1-9 is based on those grounds, and all
schools in the Turku and Vaasa regions follow
the curriculum.
Basic education is given in the schools of Turku
in Finnish at 33 schools, in Swedish at 4 schools
and in English at the Turku International School
( ). In addition to the schools
administrated by the City, the University of Turku
Normal School and Steiner School also operate
in Turku.
Vaasa City maintains 20 Finnish-speaking schools
and 6 Swedish-speakning schools that provide
basic education. There are also the Swedish-
speakning state school Vasa Övningsskola and
the private schools Vaasa Christian School and
Vaasa Rudolf Steiner School.
Please check > Education or
> Service Guide > Teaching and Education
for more information.
Upper Secondary Education
Upper secondary education is given in the
schools of Turku in Finnish at 6 schools,
in Swedish at Katedralskolan i Åbo and in
English at the Turku International School
. In the Turku International School,
the courses are in English and the exam taken at
the end of secondary education is the International
Baccalaureate. In addition to the upper secondary
schools administrated by the City, also the
University of Turku Normal School and Steiner
School operate inTurku.
In Vaasa upper secondary education is given in
Finnish at Vaasan lyseon lukio and in Swedish
at Vasa gymmnasium. In addition to the
upper secondary schools administrated by
the City, also the Åbo Akademi University Vasa
Övningsskola (incl. IB-programme) and Steiner
School operate in Vaasa.
Turku International School
Turku International School was founded in 2003
and is primarily aimed for international children
living either temporarily or permanently in
Turku. Additionally, Finnish children returning
home after several years abroad attend
this school. Language competence tests
are organised by the school for non-native
English-speakers. The English language test
is obligatory. The school offers grades 1–9 in
basic education as well as upper secondary
education based on the International
Baccalaureat Diploma Programme. For
more information and application, please
contact the Head of School Mr. Vesa Valkila
).
6.3 Social Benefits for Families
Families are supported in Finland through
various forms of services and income transfers.
The municipality of residence ( hemort/kotikunta)
gives access to municipal services, such as child
day care and health care services.
Most social security benefits are provided by
Kela/Fpa, the Social Insurance Institution of
Finland. Eligibility for Finnish social security
benefits is based on residence in Finland. If you
intend to move to Finland permanently, you
will normally be covered by the Finnish social
security system and will qualify for Kela benefits
as soon as you move to Finland. Coverage under
the Finnish social security system is applied by
filing the Kela form Y 77e. Students moving to
Finland for the sole purpose of studying are
considered to be resident in Finland temporarily.
The exception to this are students moving from
another Nordic country, who can gain social
security coverage in Finland if they are recorded
in the Finnish population register as being
resident in Finland.