Diversity in education is increasing: JOVAP studies provide formal teaching qualifications and help with integration into Finnish society
The JOVAP studies are intended for early childhood education and care teachers with an immigrant background who have moved to Finland and completed their degree outside the EU area. To work as a qualified early childhood education and care teacher, immigrants must have the Finnish National Agency for Education’s decision on the correspondence of the degree earned abroad that must be complemented with further studies in Finnish early childhood education and care. Thus, teacher education for university graduates gained abroad is not directly valid in Finnish society.
At Tampere University, the JOVAP studies began in autumn 2022.
“The purpose of further studies is to familiarise early childhood education teachers who have moved to Finland with the Finnish early childhood education and care plan and the system, and to support to gain eligibility for an early childhood education and care teacher in Finland. It comes as a surprise to many that in Finland you cannot enter working life directly with your own degree,” says University Instructor Maija Repo, who coordinates the JOVAP project.
Teachers with an immigrant background bring a broader perspective to the Finnish early childhood education and care
Currently, 11 students from, for example, Tanzania, Turkey, Canada and USA are studying within the JOVAP project.
Early childhood education teacher Dorica Kiiskinen moved to Finland from Tanzania. She first studied Finnish language via the Studyinfo and then started working in a day-care centre. Via the JOVAP studies Kiiskinen has been able to apply for a permanent position requiring the qualification of a teacher.
“I first worked as a group assistant and then as a child nurse in a day-care centre. Since I am an early childhood education teacher, I started looking for educations, with which I could gain the formal teaching qualifications also in Finland. In the JOVAP studies I have gained self-confidence and appreciation for my expertise here (in Finland) as well. I see these studies as a key to employment in the early childhood education sector,” Kiiskinen says.
Language and cultural awareness are important in the field of education in Finland. In Repo’s view, it could benefit the Finnish working life that those who have been educated elsewhere have seen two different systems of education:
“All our JOVAP students are culturally aware and have versatile language and intercultural sensitivity skills. They know the education sector from more than one culture’s perspective and can bring different approaches on what education can mean. There is not enough diverse staff to encounter the children of diverse families in the early childhood education at the moment. We could learn a lot from students and employees with an immigrant background.”
Repo and Kiiskinen agree, that it can be significantly easier for parents who have moved from abroad to encounter a teacher who has experienced the same process.
“I am happy if I can help and contribute to the integration of immigrant children and their parents. I appreciate Finnish culture and have learned a lot of good things from it. However, it would be good if there was more willingness to learn on both sides. This would bring diversity,” Kiiskinen points out.
Flexible use of language increases inclusiveness
The JOVAP studies bring up the debate on language issues and their significance for the status of teachers who have immigrated. Efforts have been made to promote equality by providing studies in English, which make it possible to apply for qualifications immediately after coming to Finland.
Also an internship included in the studies may be completed in a day-care centre environment in Finnish or in English.
According to Repo and Kiiskinen, knowledge of the Finnish language is an important part of social integration. Both emphasise that language awareness is important for workplace inclusiveness and psychological safety. They come out in support for language-aware workplaces.
“Language awareness can mean, for example, that it is possible to use both Finnish and English mixed in the workplace. The starting point is that the way of using the language would be as flexible as possible and the atmosphere would also encourage to use a language, which is still developing. It will increase everyone’s sense of security,” Repo mentions.
“The Finnish language is a crucial factor in the integration into Finnish society. Flexible use of language increases the sense of security in a communication situation, reduces the risk of being left out and encourages the use of Finnish in discussions more boldly,” Kiiskinen summarises.
