Finnish school ordered to compensate non-religious student after discrimination incident

A Finnish school has been ordered to provide a compensation of €1,500 after a discrimination incident involving a non-religious elementary school student during a school event that was intended to be inclusive. However, the event turned out to have a religious focus, leading to feelings of mistrust towards the school’s activities, as expressed by the student’s mother, who remains anonymous due to the sensitivity of the case.

The mother filed a complaint with the non-discrimination ombudsman and brought the issue to the equality and discrimination board. The board concluded that the school had engaged in discrimination and recommended the compensation, marking a significant ruling as it is the first of its kind. While the recommendations from the board are legally binding, there is an option to appeal the decision to administrative court.

The mother feels the school attempted to bypass legal requirements through inadequate communication. According to her, parents were not informed that the event was organized by a congregation. She expressed concern over being seen as a difficult parent and that not all beliefs are treated equally at the school.

Antti Karrimaa, the interim director of education in Hämeenlinna, acknowledged that a mistake occurred regarding the concert, emphasizing the need for greater precision in event planning. He does not believe there was any intentional attempt to conceal information or violate the law.

The non-discrimination ombudsman has seen a fivefold increase in inquiries regarding religious practices in schools over the past five years, indicating a growing awareness among parents and children about their rights. Karrimaa stated that the city will cover the compensation, highlighting the need for improved planning in school events to prevent such incidents in the future.