Smartphone-operated door locks raise accessibility concerns at schools in Finland

Smartphone-operated door locks are becoming increasingly common in educational institutions. However, it is essential to ensure that all students have access to the facilities. For instance, the mobile application was adopted at the Tampere Region Vocational College (TREDU) at the beginning of 2023, and the Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences (Sedu) plans to implement it this fall.

A 17-year-old student, Tobias Rauhamäki, highlighted that he cannot access school without a smartphone, as the doors are locked for security reasons. However, schools cannot require students to use smartphones; alternative options must be provided if a student does not have a suitable device or chooses not to use one. Laura Francke, a lawyer at the Finnish National Agency for Education, stated that all students must be able to move within the school or institution. Students under 15 must have parental guidance regarding their mobile phone usage, while those aged 15-17 can consent to using their devices independently or with parental permission.

In Seinäjoki, alternative access methods are still being considered, while hundreds of students at TREDU are currently using the app. According to TREDU planner Sami Alijärvi, only a few students lack a compatible phone, and they are provided with a traditional access card. The mobile app was chosen for being a safer and more economical option than physical access cards, which can easily be lost.

The new locking system will initially be implemented at Sedu’s Suupohjantie unit, serving about a thousand students, and discussions about alternative access methods continue. So far, Chief of Education Virpi Lehtimäki has not heard of any student lacking a suitable device, and visitors will need at least a phone number to request door access. Educational institutions are free to decide their security practices, including door locking protocols, based on guidelines from the Finnish National Agency for Education.