Lahti is a city in Finland located about 100km north of Helsinki with a population of around 100,000 inhabitants. It is known for sports like ski jumping and ice hockey, as well as design and culture at venues like Sibelius Hall. Fundamental principles of education in Finland emphasize equal opportunities for all citizens to receive education regardless of factors like age, finances, gender or native language. The Tiirismaa School in Lahti has offered education in English since 1996, with around 164 students and 10 teachers in the primary English program, which teaches most subjects in English. Students must pass an aptitude or English proficiency test to enter the preschool or higher grades of the English program.

1. WELCOME TO LAHTI
FINLAND

2. Lahti on the Map
Europe – Skandinavia –
Finland – Lahti.
• Lahti became a city in
1905.
• It is situated about 100km
from Helsinki to the
North.
• We have about 100 000
inhabitants.
Lahti

3. What is Lahti City famous for…
• SPORTS – ski-jumping, icehockey, cross-country skiing
• DESIGN – clothes, furniture
• CULTURE – Sibelius Hall, The
Institute of Design and Fine
Arts

4. FORMAL EDUCATION IN
FINLAND
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•
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Fundamental principles
The main objective of Finnish education
policy is to offer all citizens equal
opportunities to receive education, regardless
of age, domicile, financial situation, gender
or mother tongue.
Firstly, provisions concerning fundamental
educational rights guarantee everyone (not
just Finnish citizens) the right to free basic
education; the provisions also specify
compulsory education.
Secondly, the public authorities are also
obligated to guarantee everyone an equal
opportunity to obtain other education besides
basic education according to their abilities
and special needs, and to develop themselves
without being prevented by economic
hardship.

5. The Tiirismaa School
• History:
- Education since 1909.
- Education in English started
in 1996 and the school moved
into a new wing of The
Tiirismaa school during the
school year 2000 -2001.
- The English Classes of Lahti
are part of the Tiirismaa school,
which is one of the biggest
schools in Lahti.

6. The Tiirismaa school today
• Classes from preschool to the 9th
grade.
• High School in the same
building.
• Total number of students around 1000
• Total number of teachers –
around 80
Specialities :
* Teaching in English and Swedish.
* Music Classes.
* Students with Russian backround.

7. The English Classes
of Lahti
• Number of the students in the
primary school : 164
• Number of the primary school
teachers: 10
• Number of assistants at the
primary school level: 2 (native
speakers)
• We offer a very nice, modern
and motivating environment
for our students.
• Our teaching is done mainly in
English
(SCI, MATHS, HISTORY, ENGLISH,
PHYSICS & CHEMISTRY, ART,
MUSIC, PE and HC)

8. •
The English Classes
of Lahti
To enter our preschool the
children will have to pass an
aptitude test.
• To enter any other grades,
students are required to pass an
English test (terminology from
different subjects)
Preschool starting at the age of 6
1st at the age of 6-7
2nd at the age of 7-8
3rd at the age of 8-9
4th at the age of 9-10
5th at the age of 10-11
6th at the age of 11-12
Grades 7-9 13 – 16 years