The academic mission of the teacher training schools is to organise the teaching practice included in the pedagogical studies required of teachers as part of the University's teacher education in a teacher training school, to supervise this teaching practice and to develop it further. The teacher training schools draw up the school-specific teaching practice plans to meet the University’s degree requirements.
Both teacher training schools are education providers as defined in the Basic Education Act and the General Upper Secondary Schools Act. The teacher training schools collaborate with other departments in the Faculty of Educational Sciences, other University of Helsinki units and national and international education organisations in research, continuing education and instruction.
The Helsinki Normal Lyceum provides basic education for its pupils and general upper secondary education for its students.
The Viikki Teacher Training School of the University of Helsinki provides preschool education, basic education and supervised morning and afternoon activities for its pupils as defined in the Basic Education Act as well as general upper secondary education for its students.
The Helsinki Normal Lyceum and the Viikki Teacher Training School share an administrative principal responsible for the operations of the teacher training schools.
In addition to the administrative principal of the teacher training schools, the Helsinki Normal Lyceum has a principal for general upper secondary education as well a principal and vice-principal for basic education. The Viikki Teacher Training School has a principal for general upper secondary education and two principals for basic education (classes 1–6 and 7–9).
As a joint body, the Helsinki Normal Lyceum and the Viikki Teacher Training School share an advisory board, whose term of office is two years.
Docent Tapio Lahtero, PhD (Education), serves as the administrative principal of the teacher training schools.
In addition to the teacher training schools, practical training included in teacher training is organised in a comprehensive field school network composed of several day care centres, schools and other educational institutions. Teaching practice included in Swedish-language training is completed at our partner schools.