Teaching about the Roma Genocide

 Inclusion of the topic in the school curriculum

In all Finnish schools, pupils learn about the Holocaust through a number of different pedagogical methods and activities. The Holocaust is a compulsory subject in history classes at both the comprehensive and upper secondary school levels, and is included as part of teaching on the history of Germany and Europe in the 1930s and 1940s, and on the history of World War II. Moreover, the subject of the Holocaust is also addressed in classes on religion, social studies, ethics and literature. Schools sometimes organize days and weeks dedicated to the subject of the Holocaust. Roma victims are included in the teaching of the Holocaust. Yet it is unknown if the Roma Genocide is specifically dealt with in Finnish school.

 Inclusion of the topic in the school textbooks

 Training of teachers and education professionals

Historians from the University of Helsinki and the Jewish school of Helsinki, have contributed to develop with the Anne Frank House (The Netherlands) teaching materials on anti-Semitism and other forms of discrimination. In September 2012 a youth meeting was held in Helsinki with youngsters from all over Finland to advise and contribute to the content of the materials.

The Finnish Peace Education Institute and Cultures of Silence research project (University of Helsinki) have recently published new teaching material against antisemitism and racism. The materials are targeted at secondary and upper secondary schools, as well as vocational institutions. These pedagogical tools provide activating exercises for all the themes discussed, and can be used in e.g. history, ethics and psychology teaching. The first booklet, "Persecution of Centuries," discusses antisemitism both in the past and today. The second booklet, "Prejudiced - me?" focuses on prejudices, stereotypes and discrimination as phenomena. Both of the booklets aim at providing tools for critical thinking and acting against racism.

 Particular activities undertaken at the level of education institutions

Since the school system in Finland is decentralized, schools organize Holocaust-related events independently. These activities are encouraged by the Ministry of Education and the Finnish National Board of Education that provide educational materials on the topic.