Tampere bans face-covering garments in schools and daycare centres

Tampere will prohibit face-covering clothing in schools, daycare centres, and educational institutions, reversing its earlier position, Yle reports. The ban, set to take effect likely next autumn, follows similar decisions in Vantaa and Turku and is justified on security grounds.

The prohibition applies to all levels of education, from early childhood to upper secondary schools. According to Anne-Mari Jussila, deputy mayor for education services, the move aims to preempt potential security challenges rather than react to existing issues. “It’s true that we don’t yet have a clear need for this ban in Tampere, but we want to be proactive,” Jussila said. She emphasised that facial recognition supports safety, interaction, and learning, noting that seeing faces aids language development, emotional expression, and reliable assessment.

The ban includes items such as balaclavas and full-face scarves. Just last week, Ulla Ojalammi, head of basic education in Tampere, had told Yle that no such restriction was necessary due to the rarity of face-covering garments in the city. The shift in policy followed discussions among education leaders after Vantaa’s decision.

Jaakko Mustakallio, deputy mayor for vitality services, stated that the guidelines ensure equal rights to a safe learning environment and consistent rules across all institutions. Tampere had no prior citywide policy on face-covering attire.