While most of Finland's schoolchildren are studying at home under coronavirus restrictions, schools are still offering pupils free meals, a practice seen for decades as a cornerstone of Finland's egalitarian society.
Around 200 pupils a day in the capital Helsinki are interrupting their home study to come to school for a free hot meal. Schools are closed for all pupils aged 10 or older, while under law they must remain open for younger pupils, even though they are strongly advised to stay home.
Finland's social distancing restrictions are in effect for the school meals. "The children keep at least one metre apart from each other, they wash their hands under supervision and a maximum of 10 children eat at the same time," Hanna-Kaisa Talvensaari from Helsinki's education department told AFP.
Under the state of emergency imposed by the government to try and curb the coronavirus pandemic, local authorities can decide whether schools may still offer the nation's 850,000 pupils free meals.
No data has yet been collected on how many schools are participating nationwide, but the country's local government association told AFP they are not aware of any regions having opted out of the policy. "School food is a vital part of a child's safety net," poverty expert Liisa Partio from children's charity MLL told AFP.
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