Student safety law must be included in the next government program

A situation has escalated at a school in Tampere, with parents requesting a police investigation into the management's actions. Some parents claim they have tried for years to get the school to address ongoing bullying, according to Yle.

Thousands of children and young people in Finland are subjected to daily cruelty in schools, a situation that would not be considered normal in the adult world. While employees are protected by occupational safety laws, schoolchildren lack a similar, separate law. Their safety relies on a collection of good intentions within basic education laws, decrees, and curriculum guidelines, but these lack enforceability, sanctions, and oversight.

The need for a student safety law has been justified in a scientific article published in the journal Yhteiskuntapolitiikka (2/2024). The authors, education sociology professor Anna Kronlöf and safety management expert Antti Simola, argue that this issue must be included in the next government program. They stress that consistent and systematic safety management in educational institutions, alongside a dedicated law, is crucial to guarantee a child's right to a safe upbringing and learning environment.