Finnish schools are reporting increasing threats and violent behaviour, with police receiving nearly 7,000 crime reports from schools, universities and research institutions last year, according to the National Police Board.
The figures cover a wide range of educational settings, including daycares, comprehensive schools, upper secondary schools, universities and research institutions. As a result, they do not show precisely where the incidents occurred or which types of institutions are most affected.
The number of reports also varies considerably between regions, although some of the difference may be explained by the varying number of educational institutions in each area. Assault was the most common suspected offence among the reported cases.
In Rovaniemi, principal Petri Maekelae said threats involving serious violence have become familiar even among very young pupils. Some children use language that suggests they intend to kill or shoot someone, despite not fully understanding the seriousness of those words.
“Lines like ‘I’ll kill you’ and ‘I’ll shoot you’ are already familiar among first-graders. The language has become harsher, but kids that age obviously don’t understand what they’re saying. It’s a way of expressing emotional strain,” Maekelae told Yle.
The concerns extend beyond conflicts between pupils. Teachers and other school staff are also facing threats and violence, with the Trade Union of Education in Finland (OAJ) reporting a rise in cases brought to its attention.
A recent survey of education sector employees found that 14 percent of respondents had experienced violence or threats of violence at work during the previous year.
Ulla Walli, OAJ’s director of legal affairs, said the union had received around 200 contacts about such incidents this year. Five years earlier, it received only a few dozen crime-related contacts annually.
The threats reported by teachers include threats to kill or physically assault them. Those responsible may be current pupils, former pupils or parents and guardians.
According to OAJ, violence and threats against teachers have increased most in primary education over the past two years. Reported incidents can involve pupils hitting, kicking or scratching teachers and other adults working in schools.
The union has also highlighted situations in which teachers are suspected of committing offences, with some cases arising from attempts to maintain order in the classroom. These incidents illustrate how conflicts within educational settings can involve both staff safety and the challenges teachers face when managing pupils’ behaviour.
The police figures and union reports point to concerns about violence and threatening behaviour across Finland’s education sector. However, because the national crime figures combine reports from different types of institutions, they do not establish how much of the reported crime takes place in schools specifically or explain what is driving the reported increase.
