Violence against teachers and education staff has increased in Finland, with incidents reported most often in comprehensive schools and early childhood education, according to a new workplace survey published by the Trade Union of Education in Finland (OAJ).<\/p>\n
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The union said the findings point to growing safety concerns in schools and childcare settings, despite improvements in overall job satisfaction and workplace leadership.<\/p>\n
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One in five respondents working in comprehensive schools said they had been subjected to violence by a pupil. The figure rose to 21 per cent in the 2026 survey, up from 17 per cent in 2024.<\/p>\n
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The situation was more severe in early childhood education, where one in three respondents said they had experienced violence from children.<\/p>\n
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“Unsafe learning and teaching environments must be addressed. The current trend is deeply concerning,” OAJ president Katarina Murto said in a statement.<\/p>\n
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“In addition to the wellbeing of education staff, we must safeguard a peaceful environment for teaching and learning.”<\/p>\n
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OAJ said Finland still lacks common national procedures for preventing violence in education settings and renewed its call for a dedicated occupational safety programme for the sector.<\/p>\n
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According to the union, preparation of such a programme began last spring following its lobbying efforts, but work should now move forward without delay.<\/p>\n
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The survey also revealed wide differences between education sectors.<\/p>\n
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Respondents working in upper secondary schools reported the highest levels of job satisfaction, while no violence was reported in that sector.<\/p>\n
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The weakest results came from vocational education, where job satisfaction remained lowest and more teachers reported plans to leave the profession than in the previous survey.<\/p>\n
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OAJ’s director of legal affairs, Ulla Walli, linked those findings to government spending cuts affecting vocational education.<\/p>\n
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“The cuts made during this government’s term are reflected directly in working conditions in vocational education,” Walli said.<\/p>\n
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She added that students had already experienced reduced classroom teaching as a result.<\/p>\n
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Despite the increase in violence, the survey found several indicators had improved.<\/p>\n
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More than four out of five respondents said they received support from colleagues, while communication, equal treatment and the consideration of staff views had all improved since the previous survey.<\/p>\n
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Seventy per cent said their workplace encouraged new ideas and maintained a supportive atmosphere.<\/p>\n
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Walli said OAJ’s training for workplace representatives and occupational safety delegates had helped strengthen working communities.<\/p>\n
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The survey also highlighted continuing pressure on staff.<\/p>\n
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Three quarters of respondents said they experienced work-related stress at least occasionally.<\/p>\n
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At the same time, employers were investing less in professional development than two years earlier, according to the findings.<\/p>\n
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Walli warned that teachers needed continued training as technology and wider changes in society reshaped education.<\/p>\n
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“Teachers’ skills must not fall behind those in other sectors,” she said.<\/p>\n
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She said greater investment in continuing education would help reduce intentions to leave the profession while supporting the quality of education for children and young people.<\/p>\n
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OAJ carries out its workplace survey every two years to measure wellbeing, working conditions and safety across Finland’s education sector.<\/p>\n
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The latest survey included 1,667 respondents selected from OAJ’s membership. Participants included teachers, daycare centre directors, school principals, managers and researchers from early childhood education through to universities.<\/p>\n
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