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Discrimination in educational institutions

Any practices of educational institutions or other organisations offering educational services where a person is treated unfavourably on the basis of sex or gender or otherwise in a manner described in the section prescribing the general prohibition of discrimination in the Finnish Equality Act in student selection, the organization of teaching, the evaluation of study performance or in any other regular activity of the educational institution in question are deemed to constitute discrimination under the Finnish Equality Act. This section does not apply to education providers and schools governed by the Finnish Basic Education Act.

The provision expressly prohibits treating persons unfavourably on the basis of sex or gender in

  • student selection,
  • the organization of teaching,
  • the evaluation of study performance, and
  • any other regular activity of the educational institution or organisation in question.

The provision also references the section prescribing the general prohibition of discrimination in the Finnish Equality Act with the aim of extending the compensation penalty to the other forms of discrimination prohibited under this provision that are not expressly defined as constituting unfavourable treatment on the basis of sex or gender. Practices of educational institutions or organisations are also deemed to constitute violations of the prohibition of discrimination in the aforementioned situations if they result in a person

  • becoming a victim of unlawful sexual harassment or harassment on the basis of gender, or
  • being discriminated against in the manner described in the Finnish Equality Act as a result of an unlawful order or instruction to engage in discrimination.

According to the Finnish Equality Act, the prohibition of discrimination in educational institutions does not extend to the content of teaching or the organisation of the educational system, and educational institutions are therefore not obligated to report on their actions as regards the structure of education, syllabuses, examinations or their content.

For advice on equality in educational institutions, please call +358 (0)9 1607 4464.