Individuals may use the external reporting channel maintained by the Office of the Chancellor of Justice to report suspected misconduct related to the activities of the Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI), its independent units, or state educational institutions.

EDUFI, its independent units—the Finnish Education Evaluation Centre (FINEEC), the Matriculation Examination Board Office, and the Service Centre for Continuous Learning and Employment (SECLE)—as well as state educational institutions, are collectively responsible for ensuring the legality of public administration. These organisations are committed to operating in a confidential, responsible, and transparent manner, in accordance with good governance practices and internal control principles.

If you suspect misconduct within EDUFI, its independent units, or state educational institutions, you may submit a report via the centralised external reporting channel of the Office of the Chancellor of Justice. Misconduct may concern, for example, public procurement, data protection and privacy, or breaches of rules concerning the granting, use, or recovery of subsidies or state aid. Reports may also be submitted via email, post, or verbally.

Who can submit a report?

Former employees, officials, trainees, job applicants, and cooperation partners of EDUFI, its independent units, or state educational institutions may submit a report safely and confidentially through the Office of the Chancellor of Justice’s centralised reporting channel.

Current personnel of the above-mentioned organisations should primarily report suspected misconduct through EDUFI’s internal reporting channel. However, an employee or official may submit a report to the Office of the Chancellor of Justice if they have a legitimate reason to believe that:

  • The internal report submitted to EDUFI has not resulted in appropriate measures within the time prescribed;
  • the matter cannot be effectively addressed internally;
  • They may face retaliation due to the report.

Members of the public may report observed misconduct or improper procedures by authorities using the complaint form provided by the Office of the Chancellor of Justice (see the Complaints section).
 

What should be included in a report and how to submit it?

Your report may concern misconduct observed in the course of your work and it must be included in the scope of the Whistleblower Act. Concrete evidence is not required at the reporting stage; it is sufficient to have a legitimate reason to believe that your suspicion is valid.

A report should include:

  • The whistleblower’s name and contact information  (email address, telephone number, street address, etc.);
  • Identification of the organisation and misconduct being reported;
  • A detailed description of the misconduct;
  • An explanation of the whistleblower’s position in relation to the subject of the report.
     

  • How is a report processed?

  • You will receive a notice of receipt from the Office of the Chancellor of Justice within seven days of submitting your report. The Office of the Chancellor of Justice will then forward the report to the competent authority responsible for the matter.

At EDUFI, reports are received by a designated review team, which will:

  • Consider whether the report and whistleblower are covered by the Whistleblower Act;
  • Investigate the validity of the reported misconduct;
  • Take corrective measures if necessary;
  • Notify the whistleblower of any measures taken based on the report.

New legislation protects whistleblowers

The Whistleblower Act entered into force on 1 January 2023. Its purpose is to protect individuals who report misconduct observed in the course of their work in areas covered by the Act, such as public procurement or privacy and personal data protection. The Act prohibits retaliation against whistleblowers and requires that the whistleblower’s identity remains confidential in the subsequent processing of their report. Reports may only be handled by specifically designated personnel.

Whistleblower protection enables the safe and confidential internal investigation of suspected misconduct, lowers the threshold for reporting unlawful activities at an early stage, facilitates timely organisational responses, and promotes trust and a sustainable culture of good governance.

Whistleblower protection is based on the Act on the Protection of Persons Reporting Infringements of European and National Law (the Whistleblower Act) and the European Union’s whistleblower directive. 

  • the European Union's whistleblower directive

  • Customer feedback and other inquiries

  • Customer feedback does not fall under the centralised reporting channel. EDUFI, its independent units, and state educational institutions have dedicated channels for feedback, appeals, and development suggestions. Submitting these directly to the appropriate channel will speed up processing.

  • Finnish National Agency for Education

  • Requests for information under the Act on the Openness of Government Activities or the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) should be sent to: kirjaamo [at] oph.fi