Students connect with sick classmates through robots at Poikkilaakso Primary School in Helsinki

At the Poikkilaakso Primary School in Helsinki, students are greeted each morning by their teacher, Kanerva Koski, in a manner of their choosing—be it a high five, a hug, or simply a wave. As a math lesson begins to review division in preparation for an upcoming test, Koski positions a 30-centimeter-tall robot, named Väinö, at the front of the classroom. The robot lights up, signaling its presence.

Väinö is a connection to 9-year-old Aho, who is unable to attend school in person due to a battle with cancer and the associated infection risk. Every year, around 160 children in Finland receive a cancer diagnosis, with approximately 75% of them recovering. Aho participates in class remotely using a tablet, while the robot serves as his physical proxy in the classroom, equipped with a camera and microphone that captures lessons for him.

The Helsinki Education and Training Division acquired three Norwegian-made AV1 robots in August for its sick students, with five already in use in the Uusimaa region by a support group for children with cancer. The robots, which help maintain connections between sick children and their schools, cost the city about €4,000 each, with an annual license fee.

While the robots bring additional work for teachers, Koski finds it manageable, appreciating the assistance they provide in supporting Aho’s education. However, the use of robots requires cooperation from both the child’s family and the school. Such technology can enhance social connections, allowing students to feel included even when physically distant. As Aho recovers, he hopes to return to the classroom by the end of the year, ready to greet his teacher in person.