Finnish MP argues prolonged S2 education is detrimental

Finnish MP Henrik Vuornos from the National Coalition Party is calling for a reform of the Finnish as a second language (S2) education system, arguing that it currently keeps too many students in specialized classes for excessive periods. Vuornos believes students should only participate in S2 instruction temporarily before integrating into regular mother tongue classes.

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There are too many students who remain in S2 groups from first grade to ninth grade.

"There are too many students who remain in S2 groups from first grade to ninth grade," Vuornos stated, noting that this is no longer a marginal issue. He contends that if students do not join their peers in mother tongue classes at some point, their learning outcomes in other subjects suffer.

S2 education is designed for students who need support with the Finnish language, similar to R2 for Swedish. Official figures from the Ministry of Education and Culture reveal that a significant portion of children with immigrant backgrounds continue in S2 or R2 classes even at the end of basic education. In 2024, 81% of ninth-graders born abroad and 70% of those born in Finland with immigrant backgrounds were receiving S2 or R2 instruction.

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It is no longer a marginal group in any way.

Education Minister Anders Adlercreutz has also expressed concern, stating that S2 instruction is not primarily intended for children born and raised in Finland with Finnish early childhood education. Vuornos's party has proposed making S2 instruction temporary by default. This proposal comes shortly after a government-led reform, which the National Coalition Party helped facilitate, aimed at moving S2 students to the general Finnish curriculum as soon as their language skills allow. However, this reform does not limit the duration of S2 instruction itself.

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S2 and R2 instruction are not primarily intended for children and young people who were born in Finland and have attended Finnish early childhood education.