Head of the Education Division Satu Järvenkallas leads the Division’s operations and administration. The Deputy Mayor of the Education Division is Johanna Laisaari.
The division-specific rules of operation define the organisation, responsibilities and powers of each City of Helsinki division in more detail than the City of Helsinki’s administrative regulations.
Rules of operation of the City of Helsinki Education Division (PDF, in Finnish)
Departments
The Early Childhood and Pre-primary Education Department is responsible for Finnish-language early childhood education, pre-primary education, morning and after-school activities for schoolchildren, and playground activities.
The Department is led by Head of Early Childhood Education Miia Kemppi.
- daycare centres
- playgrounds
- after-school activities
The Basic Education Department is responsible for basic education in Finnish and other activities in accordance with the Finnish Basic Education Act.
The Basic Education Department is responsible for the morning and after-school activities for schoolchildren in accordance with the Finnish Basic Education Act. Open after-school activities are run by the department of Early Childhood and Pre-primary Education.
The Basic Education Department is led by Head of Basic Education Outi Salo.
The General Upper Secondary, Vocational and Liberal Adult Education Department is responsible for general upper secondary education, vocational education and training in Finnish, youth workshops and liberal adult education in Finnish.
The Department is led by Head of General Upper Secondary, Vocational and Liberal Adult Education Harri Korhonen.
Adult education centres
- The Helsinki Finnish Adult Education Centre Upper is part of the upper secondary, vocational and liberal adult education service complex.
- Arbis is part of Services in Swedish.
Helsinki Finnish Adult Education Centre and Arbis are the biggest adult education centres in Finland. The education centres offer a diverse selection of courses, hobbies, public lectures, concerts, theatre activities, events and open university studies. See the course and programme selection at ilmonet.fi.
The adult education centre activities are primarily intended for over 16-year-olds. Courses are also available for younger people and families. The centres are open for all customers regardless of their place of residence. Arbis activities are also open to customers who do not speak Swedish as their mother tongue.
The Helsinki Finnish Adult Education Centre has 11 offices in different parts of Helsinki. Operations are also organised in school facilities. Arbis has offices on Dagmarinkatu Street and at Stoa. Teaching takes place in the mornings, daytime and evenings and ranges from short-term and weekend courses to courses that continue for a whole term. All our teachers are professionals in their field.
Over 80,000 students attend approximately 4,800 different courses at the Helsinki Finnish Adult Education Centre annually. Nearly 18,000 people annually participate on the approximately 900 courses organised by Arbis.
The Services in Swedish Department is responsible for Swedish-language early childhood education, pre-primary education, morning and after-school activities for schoolchildren, playground activities, basic education and other activities under the Finnish Basic Education Act, general upper secondary education, outreach youth work, youth workshops and liberal adult education in Swedish.
The Department is led by Head of Services in Swedish Niclas Grönholm.
The Education Division’s administration and support services include administrative services, HR services, development services, financial and planning services, premises services, information management services and communications services.
The Division’s administration is led by Head of Administration Kati Takanen.