Helsinki will not ban face coverings in schools, but tightens guidelines

The City of Helsinki has decided not to ban face coverings such as headscarves or balaclavas in schools and colleges, but will instead tighten existing safety guidelines. This decision came after a meeting of the Helsinki City Council on Wednesday, where motions submitted by the Finns Party and National Coalition Party councillors were discussed.

The Finns Party wanted to extend the ban to include school staff, but the city councillors did not vote in favor of an outright ban. Instead, the new safety guideline will require students to be identifiable during instruction and assessment, ensuring their face is visible for interaction, participation, legal protection, and safety.

This face visibility requirement will be implemented on a case-by-case basis, with the primary condition being a justifiable reason for the need to see the student's face, unrelated to their appearance or personal characteristics. The new guideline will be put into use in schools as soon as possible, addressing a long-standing debate in Finland regarding the suitability of face coverings in educational settings.