If the government has its way, in future local governments will be able to opt out of laying down codes of conduct for local schools. The change is part of a government plan to save money by giving local governments full discretion in ensuring enforcement of discipline in elementary and upper secondary schools.
Children’s Ombudsman Tuomas Kurttila said that it is strange and worrying that while government has announced its intention to further develop school anti-bullying programmes, it is no longer requiring municipalities to support such programmes – all in the hope of securing small savings.
"The government’s action is downright insane. In future everyone will do whatever they want about school bullying," Kurttila declared.
The children’s rights watchdog noted that the government’s new policy will lead to very different programmes and practices across the country. Anti-bullying programmes, along with other teaching initiatives, have for the most part been implemented on the basis of common goals and actions.
The National Board of Education is currently preparing uniform guidelines to be used as rules, but according to Kurttila the government is sending a message that a voluntary approach will dilute effective measures to combat harassment and violence in schools.
"Does the government even understand the seriousness of bullying?" Kurttila queried.
School order sacrificed in favour of cost-cutting
According to the Ombudsman only common rules and planning will ensure that all school children have a right to safety at school and in learning.
Kurttila said that while he understands the need to rein in costs, it is very worrying to save a few hundred thousand euros at the expense of order in schools.
Kurttila estimated that the government proposal would also increase disparities among schools. He said that bullying is evident in schools in varying degrees. Kurttila noted that this was a result of different levels of commitment to combating the problem.
He added that if anti-bullying efforts become optional, these differences will grow as preventive programmes will not necessarily exist in all schools.
The Education Ministry said however that schools must be able to independently come up with plans for dealing with harassment and other disruptions.
Easier suspension for problem students
The Children’s Ombudsman pointed out that while government would be giving municipalities greater discretion, it would also be providing harsher disciplinary tools. One such measure would be to make it easier to expel problem students.
"Will it be the case in future that difficult students will be kicked out more easily than now?"
However Kurttila said that suspending problem students won’t improve order in schools. He pointed out that Finland has already been rapped over the knuckles by the United Nations for its low levels of student satisfaction.
According to the Ministry of Education and Culture, the planned reforms to the Pupil and Student Welfare Act – including the introduction of municipal discretion - will help reduce bureaucracy. Education Minister Sanni Grahn-Laasonen said that the proposed changes will also free up time to focus on teaching.
Kurttila called on the government to assess the impact of its savings goals on children and young adults. The Ministry maintained that issues such as bullying have been factored into the new curriculum that will be introduced throughout the country next autumn. It also noted that it is establishing a working group to step up anti-bullying efforts.
However Kurttila insisted that it remains unclear how the curriculum will improve the current situation.
