The town of Lieksa provides preschool comprehensive education for the youth. In 2006, 100 children participated in preschool education and 1397 pupils in comprehensive education. The basis for carrying out preschool and comprehensive education is the set of values, goals and standards laid for education at the national level.

The common educational area of focus for the children and youth is the town fo Lieksa, some of whose characteristics are nature and vicinity of the border area. Learning environments for preschool and comprehensive education are implemented so that they support the pupil's growth and learning, and lead teachers tu use diverse teaching and working methods. In addition to just learning new information, the pupils are to learn new ways of learning and working that contribute to their lifelong learning process.

A specific goal for preschool education is, in cooperation with the carers, to improve the conditions for the childs development and learning. Additionally, the childrens social skills and healthy self-respect are strengthened in preschool education through play and positive experiences.

The three national target areas are implemented in comprehensive education:

•                   growing to be a part of humanity and a member of society

•                   providing the necessary knowledge and skills

•                   promoting educational equality and lifelong learning

The specific goals of additional education within comprehensive education are to develop a young persons abilities to choose a career, to improve their chances of being successful in further studies and to enhance their life management skills. In addition, the town of Lieksa provides morning and afternoon activities outside actual school time for pupils in classes 1 and 2 of comprehensive education and for pupils who need special education.

Education preparatory to comprehensive education is arranged for immigrants in order to provide them with the necessary skills in Finnish or Swedish. Furthermore, care will also be taken to ensure that the learner acquires other abilities needed for proceeding to preschool or comprehensive education. The pupils balanced development and adaptation to Finnish society are facilitated in immigrant education, and the immigrants skills in their mother tongue and their knowledge of their own culture are supported and encouraged.

Upper Secondary School Education

 
The town of Lieksa is responsible for upper secondary school education in Lieksa. In 2005 - 2006 there were 244 students at the gymnasium. According to the objective defined in the law on upper secondary school education, the purpose of the Lieksa Gymnasium is to provide all-round education which prepares the students for further education and leads to matriculation examination. The gymnasium participates in the Eastern Finland Learning Network (Itäsuomalainen oppimisverkosto) project, which aims to complement the gymnasiums own selection of courses. It also seeks to make possible the kind of senior secondary school education for adults, in which the student can use distance, network and class education flexibly. The gymnasium also takes part in an extension of the LUMA programme, in a regional programme for developing study guidance in upper secondary school education, and in a European project concentrating on assessing the quality of the operation of schools. In future, the Lieksa Gymnasium will develop cooperation in upper secondary school education with the providers of vocational training. Developing distance and network education is also one of the gymnasiums future challenges.

The Lieksa Gymnasium has been active in international development projects. A Comenius language programme will be implemented during 2005 - 2006, within which our gymnasium collaborates with an Italian school, Liceo Scientifico "Federico Enriques" in the town of Lissone. The aim of this Comenius programme, which deals with the theme of food and nutrition, is to promote the internationalization of the Lieksa Gymnasium, to develop the students' practical language skills and to lead the students to see the importance of understanding different cultures.