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    Asiakasnäkymä
    Opetus- ja kulttuuriministeriö (OKM)
    Updated 24.06.2025

    Instruction in reading and writing skills

    Learning reading and writing and studying subjects such as mathematics and social sciences through either liberal adult education or preparatory instruction and lower secondary education for adults.
    Service implementation:
    Contact service
    Life situation and service category:
    On integration period,
    Lacking comprehensive or upper secondary education,
    Integration period has passed,
    Interested in training or education,
    Language training
    Service language:
    Finnish
    ,
    Swedish
    Charges:
    The service is free of charge

    The service is free of charge. If the studies are subject to any fees, the client must pay them at their own expense.

    Service accessibility

    Does not require reading skills

    Who is the service for?

    This training is intended for immigrant clients who do not yet know how to read and write in the Latin alphabet.

    1. Training intended for people unable to read and write, part of preparatory instruction for lower secondary education for adults (AIPE): suitable for life situations that allow for regular goal-oriented studying. Intended for clients who have no primary and lower secondary education or who never finished their primary and lower secondary education or who would otherwise benefit from this training. AIPE instruction is divided into periods. From the start, the syllabus also includes social sciences, mathematics, English, crafts and information technology as well as greater resources for special needs education and guidance.
    2. You can also achieve literacy through literacy training provided through liberal adult education: This path is better suited for some clients on account of their educational background, learning skills or situation in life. Liberal adult education offers activity-oriented education in Finnish and information technology, as well as mathematics and social sciences to a limited degree, and is led by a teacher.
    Participant’s municipality of residence:
    Municipality of residence does not matter
    Age:
    Kaikille työikäisille

    How can I participate in the service?

    Your assigned employment services specialist will help you apply for the training and will direct you to literacy training suitable for your skill level. 

    You can sign up for the entry phase for preparatory instruction for lower secondary education for adults (AIPE) directly via an educational institution. More information on how to sign up is available directly on the website of the educational institution offering the training.

    ALWAYS remember to contact your assigned specialist first when you intend to apply for a study place at an educational institution.

    Conditions for participating in the service:

    The requirement for being accepted for this training is that you do not yet know how to read and write in the Latin alphabet. You must also participate in contact teaching regularly and make progress in your studies.

    Benefits of participating in the service:

    This training will:

    • strengthen your ability to read and write in Finnish
    • improve your chances of finding a job or being accepted for further training. 

    Preparatory instruction and lower secondary education for adults provides a good general education as a foundation for further studies for young illiterate immigrants in particular.

    How is the service organised?

    Not all people moving to Finland necessarily know how to read and write.  This may be due to poor educational opportunities in the individual’s home country or country of origin or the individual not having had the opportunity to go to school at all for one reason or another, for instance. For this reason, Finland also organises teaching in reading and writing for immigrants.

    In in-person instruction in reading and writing:

    • you will learn basic Finnish vocabulary
    • you will practise speaking in various situations
    • you will learn to read and write in the Latin alphabet.

    Where and when?

    Palvelun kielet toimipaikassa
    Finnish,
    Swedish
    Weekday and time
    To be agreed upon