Survey finds rising violence is harming teachers’ ability to work

Violence against teachers has increased, and the threat of violence is weakening their ability to work, according to a survey by the Education Union OAJ, reported by Yle.

OAJ published its latest working conditions barometer on Tuesday. It found that 14 per cent of respondents had experienced violence at work during the previous year, up from 10 per cent in the previous survey.

In 99 per cent of cases, the violence came from children or pupils. Six per cent of those who experienced violence took sick leave as a result.

The survey found that workload had fallen slightly but remained high. Many teachers and managers still reported inappropriate treatment and bullying at work.

Other statistics indicate that violence has increased even more sharply. According to Tapaturmavakuutuskeskus statistics, workplace accidents among teachers in the lower grades of comprehensive school have almost quadrupled over roughly the past 10 years. In early childhood education, workplace accidents had nearly increased tenfold.

The accidents involving education professionals were linked to violence, shocking events, unusual presence, attacks or threats caused by another person, according to the report.

A 2024 study by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health found that 44 per cent of teachers in upper comprehensive school grades and upper secondary schools had experienced violence or the threat of violence during the previous year.

A 2024 survey of occupational safety representatives affiliated with OAJ found that the violence had included choking, pushing, hitting, spitting, biting, pulling and threats of physical violence.

“The fear that something may happen, as well as constantly staying alert and on guard, causes prolonged harm to health and weakens the ability to work,” the barometer said. “That is why even the threat of violence requires action in the workplace.”

More than 70 per cent of those who had experienced violence during the previous year were women. Violence was also considerably more common among people under 40.

Special education teachers and special class teachers experienced violence most often, according to the report.

OAJ is calling for a national occupational safety programme for the education, training and research sectors. It said the increase in violence endangered teachers’ safety and ability to work, as well as the future of education.

The survey received responses from 1,667 people working in education, early childhood education and research at educational institutions and day-care centres of different sizes. The responses were collected in November 2025.