Good News from Thu, 29 April, 2010:

The latest newcomer in internationalizing Helsinki: European Schooling Helsinki

European Schooling Helsinki ESH opened its doors in 2008 to serve the educational needs of the children of the employees of the European Chemicals Agency ECHA established in Helsinki at the same time. A versatile school, which would meet the linguistic and cultural requirements of the children of the 400-500 international employees of the ECHA was needed. This autumn a total of 160 children between 4 and 16 years will begin their schooling in the Finnish, English and French language sections of the school, which is maintained by the Finnish government. The pupils originate from over ten different European Union member countries.   

ESH is accredited into the European Schools System, following principally the European School curriculum. There are about twenty similar schools in Europe. At the moment the school comprises a nursery, primary and the four first years of the secondary cycle. The two-year long high school, which enables the pupils to take the European Baccalaureate (EB), is intended to have in place in 2011.

ESH will remain rather small. The school is interesting in the sense that it will be a significant European school in a metropolitan city, but still more like a village school. Because the school will eventually have a total of 14 grades, three language sections and about 300 pupils, the class sizes will be kept reasonable. For this reason one of the teaching methods will be the use of combined classes. There are certain challenges with such classes, so the parents need to take an active part in understanding and developing the activity.

ESH will differ from Finnish schools. School days will be longer and some subjects slightly different. Such are for instance the “Europe lessons” held in English or French. The pupils will under certain conditions have a chance to be taught in their own mother tongue. The school has also introduced a semester fee.

ESH’s parents’ association is more active than that of normal Finnish schools for instance for the reason that the parents have to pay for school food and books separately. The parents also pay for the wide range of after-school activities offered by ESH. Especially foreign parents have experienced this operation as very important because most of Helsinki’s after-school activities are carried out in Finnish.

The educational philosophy of the school fits in well with internationalizing Helsinki. In the words of the French “Europe Architect” Jean Monet the school offers its learners the prerequisites to grow and study side by side, without prejudices, and to value all different cultures without forgetting about their own home country.

Matti Vainio
Chairman of the European Schooling Helsinki Parents’ Association, ESHPA

Did you find the article interesting? Have your say!

* Please fill all fields

Comments (2)

Justis Thu 17 November 2011 at 7:45
Phneoemnal breakdown of the topic, you should write for me too!
pjawppjib Thu 17 November 2011 at 12:02
sy4dZo anvaalstvmav