The Russian Teachers´ Association in Finland was founded in 1969. In 1997 the number of our members was some 530 and comprised of teachers in institutes of higher education, schools and courses.

The purpose of the Association is to promote and develop the teaching of the Russian language in Finland. One important goal is to increase the teaching of Russian and to safeguard its position in the language programs of the schools.

We find it important to develop the level of the Russian language instruction and to support the teachers in their work. The Association produces an instructional material package every year.

The Russian Teachers´ Association in Finland participates in international cooperation through Maprayal (Mezhdunarodnaya associaciya prepodavateley russkogo jazyka i literatury/ the International Association of Russian Language and Literature Teachers). Our Association has been a member of Maprayal and has had a representative in the Maprayal executive council ever since 1967. Our representatives have participated in Maprayal congresses, regional symposiums and in Russian language contests for the students.

The Russian Teachers´ Association in Finland publishes the magazine Aspekti with two issues per year which are free of charge to the members.

The Russian Teachers´ Association in Finland belongs to The Finnish Foreign Language Teachers´ Association (SUKOL). It is an associate member of The Teachers´ Trade Union in Finland and has a representation in the Russian section of The Institute for Cultural Relations between Finland and Russian (which is a research institute sponsored by the Ministry of Education). We also work closely with the Russian Scientific and Cultural Center.