Helsinki rejects school head covering ban in favour of safety rules

Helsinki will not ban headscarves or other face-covering garments in its schools and institutes, Yle reports. Instead, new safety guidance will require students to be identifiable during teaching and assessment.

The city council considered a proposal from the Finns Party group and a similar initiative by councillor Seida Sohrabi of the National Coalition Party. Sohrabi called for bans on niqabs, burqas and balaclavas, saying they make it difficult to identify children. The Finns Party also wanted a ban to cover school staff, particularly teachers.

The Finns Party sought to send the matter back for preparation of a clear ban on garments covering the head or face. A few National Coalition Party councillors supported the motion, but it was defeated.

Under the safety guidance being prepared, a student’s face may need to be visible during teaching to support interaction, participation, legal protection and safety. The requirement must not be a general rule: it should be applied case by case and only for a justified reason. The guidance also says the requirement must not be based on a student’s appearance, clothing or other personal characteristics.

Helsinki’s director of education, Satu Järvenkallas, told Yle that the updated guidance would be introduced in schools soon after the council’s consideration.