JultikaUniversity of Oulu repository

Abstract

As multiculturalism becomes an increasingly significant part of the Finnish school environment, the ability of teachers to encounter different cultures and to teach pupils with an immigrant background has attracted attention and the need for research. Preparatory education teachers are a fairly new professional group that consists of various educational professionals. Their eligibility requirements and training are, however, in many ways deficient.

The competences found in this study that preparatory education teachers need in their daily work include encountering pupils from different cultural backgrounds with understanding and respect, differentiation and teaching Finnish as a second language skills as well as flexibility and the ability to identify learning difficulties from insufficient language skills.

There may be differences as to which educational background would correspond to the work of a preparatory education teacher the best. The teachers, however, agree on the need for further training when it comes to multicultural implementation of education and the fact that their educational background has not provided enough knowledge for them to acquire the competences needed in the work.