Finland Will Deny Licenses To New Private Religious Schools

The Finnish News Agency STT reports today that the Finnish government has decided to deny licenses for new private schools, as well as to turn down applications for the expansion of the activities of existing schools. Minister of Education Antti Kalliomaki said that it was not the function of schools to proclaim one single truth, religious or otherwise. "One school teaching according to the convictions of some and a second school teaching according to the convictions of others is not real pluralism," he said. Two Christian schools that are merely continuing their existing programs have received a 2-year extension of their licenses. Taneli Hassinen, chair of the board of the Centre for Christian Education, charged that the government decision to deny school licences violates Finland's constitution, the law on freedom of religion and international human rights conventions.