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Huoltokatko - Älä tee muutoksia

Palvelumanuaalissa on huoltokatko keskiviikkona 2.7. klo 7-9 eikä palvelu ole käytössä. Palvelumanuaalin sisällöntuottaja: Tallennathan keskeneräiset muutokset ennen katkoa. Tallentamattomat muutokset kadotetaan.  

    Asiakasnäkymä
    Kunnat
    Updated 30.06.2025

    Preparatory instruction and lower secondary education for adults

    Preparatory instruction and lower secondary education for adults is divided into three phases: the entry phase, preparatory instruction for lower secondary education, and lower secondary education. A personal study plan is drawn up for the student.
    Service implementation:
    Contact service
    Life situation and service category:
    Interested in training or education,
    Lacking comprehensive or upper secondary education,
    On integration period,
    Integration period has passed,
    Foreign qualification or degree,
    Comprehensive and general upper secondary education
    Service language:
    Finnish
    ,
    Swedish
    Charges:
    The service is free of charge

    Who is the service for?

    The target groups of preparatory instruction and lower secondary education for adults include:

    • young people who came to Finland during their lower secondary school education but who did not complete their lower secondary education while they were of compulsory school age, or whose skill level was not adequately raised during their primary and lower secondary school education
    • 17–25-year-old young people with an immigrant background who are unable to participate in education provided for students of compulsory school age because of their age but who require a primary and lower secondary education certificate and study skills in order to move on to upper secondary education
    • other adults with an immigrant background who, because of their poor primary and lower secondary education, require instruction at the primary education level in particular, such as instruction in literacy and mathematics, or who require a school-leaving certificate in order to move on to further studies
    • prisoners who do not have a primary and lower secondary education certificate or who lack the study skills necessary to move on to upper secondary education
    • adult Roma who have only completed some primary and lower secondary studies or who lack a primary and lower secondary education certificate
    • other adults who dropped out of primary or lower secondary school while they were of compulsory school age • adults who are studying one or more school subjects as subject students and/or who wish to raise their primary and lower secondary school grades.

    In preparatory instruction and lower secondary education for adults, students can complete the primary and lower secondary education syllabus, study subjects included in primary and lower secondary education or parts of such subjects, and raise their grades for their primary and lower secondary education certificate. A personal study plan is drawn up for students based on what studies they require in order to reach their study goals.

    Participant’s municipality of residence:
    Municipality of residence does not matter
    Age:
    All people of working age

    How can I participate in the service?

    You can participate in preparatory instruction and lower secondary education for adults at general upper secondary schools for adults, adult education centres, some vocational colleges and other educational institutions. The instruction is provided in either Finnish or Swedish.

    Conditions for participating in the service:

    Preparatory instruction and lower secondary education for adults is intended for you if you have not completed a primary and lower secondary education in any country. You need to be able to speak some Finnish (language proficiency level A1.1/preparatory instruction for lower secondary education). Lower secondary education for adults requires you to have a higher level of Finnish proficiency (A2.2) in order to be admitted to this school. 

    Your life situation must also allow you to study on four evenings per week (Mon–Thu) and complete the homework included in your studies. You must have the motivation to study in order to receive a primary and lower secondary education certificate.

    Benefits of participating in the service:

    In preparatory instruction and lower secondary education for adults, you will learn Finnish while studying many different subjects. You will gain a broad proficiency in Finnish. The goal is for your language proficiency to be at the B1 level at the end of the education.

    Preparatory instruction and lower secondary education for adults will help you learn new skills and develop the skills you already have. Preparatory instruction and lower secondary education for adults builds self-confidence. You will learn to navigate Finnish society, improve your social interaction skills and get to know other students. 

    When you complete preparatory instruction and lower secondary education for adults, you will receive a primary and lower secondary education certificate that allows you to apply to study for an upper secondary qualification at a vocational institute or a general upper secondary school. Studying also improves your chances of finding employment in Finland.

    How is the service organised?

    Implementation

    Preparatory instruction and lower secondary education for adults is suitable for you if you have not completed a primary and lower secondary education or a similar education in Finland or in your home country and you are no longer entitled to participate in primary and lower secondary education for children and young people. 

    You can complete preparatory instruction and lower secondary education for adults by completing all three phases of this education or only some of them, depending on your initial level of skill and competence. At the beginning of your studies, a personal study plan will be drawn up for you, taking into account your previous studies and skills that you have acquired in other ways. 

    You can participate in preparatory instruction and lower secondary education for adults if:

    • you are a 16–17-year-old immigrant and have a primary and lower secondary education certificate from your home country
    • you are an immigrant aged 18 or older and you need to strengthen your skills in order to participate in upper secondary education.

    People of compulsory school age are prioritised in the selection of students for preparatory instruction and lower secondary education for adults. Second in the order of priority in student selections are people aged 18 to 25. Then, if there is space left, people over the age of 25 are admitted.

    You will have completed the entire syllabus for preparatory instruction and lower secondary education for adults once you have completed, with passing marks, the subject syllabuses for all subjects included in your personal study plan.