Swedish law states that all children should have the same access to education, regardless of gender, location or socioeconomic factors. Photo: Doris Beling/Folio

A lesson for life

Swedish schools and preschools have a democratic mission. This involves improving students’ understanding about democracy and promoting basic educational values, as well as helping raise students as democratically engaged citizens. Their mission upholds the rights of students — and staff — to influence day-to-day education, from what is taught in the classroom to the school environment.

A national strategy

In line with this work, the Riksdag (Swedish parliament) unveiled a national strategy in 1999 to implement the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, otherwise known as the Child Convention, through national and municipal authorities and county councils.

The Swedish Act Prohibiting Discrimination and Other Degrading Treatment of Children and School Students came into force in April 2006. As a result, preschools and schools were given a new duty to work actively to prevent discrimination and degrading treatment. Under the act, all schools are required to have what is called an equal treatment plan. The plan specifies what each school is to do to ensure that all students are treated equally irrespective of their sex, ethnic or national origin, religion or other belief, sexual orientation or disability.

The Equality Ombudsman (Diskrimineringsombudsmannen, DO) is responsible for the guidelines for equal treatment plans, but each school creates its own plan working with teachers, students and parents. Equal treatment plans are a way of ensuring compliance with the UN Child Convention.

How schools are governed

The Education Act, passed by the Swedish parliament, includes the basic goals and guidelines for preschool activities, childcare for schoolchildren, and compulsory and non-compulsory education. In 1991, the government handed over much of the responsibility for schools to the municipal governments.

Sweden’s 290 municipalities are run according to national legislative and regulatory frameworks. Municipal responsibility for schools is based on the Swedish commitment to self-government and democracy. This means citizens should be close to the decision-making process, giving them the opportunity to influence schools and adapt them to local needs. Among their duties, municipalities:
• Provide preschool activities and education for their residents.
• Set goals and make decisions about preschools and other education.
• Set priorities and allocate resources.
• Fund independent schools for students registered in the municipality.
• Act as the employer for teachers and other school staff.

Three new government authorities

Since October 1, 2008, there have been three school agencies:
• The Swedish Schools Inspectorate (Skolinspektionen) is responsible for overseeing and examining the quality of schools across the country through regular inspections. The inspectorate also monitors compliance with the Act Prohibiting Discrimination and Other Degrading Treatment of Children and School Students.
• The Swedish National Agency for Education (Skolverket) provides information and spreads knowledge about the educational field, and administers state funding and grants. www.skolverket.se
• The National Agency for Special Needs Education and Schools (Specialpedagogiska myndigheten) provides children, young people and adults with disabilities the same opportunities for development and education as others.
www.spsm.se

Of the roughly 4,800 compulsory schools, almost 4,200 are municipal (2007/08). Photo: MILO/99Bilder 

Proposal for changes in education

In June 2009, the government presented a proposal for a new Education Act. Changes from the current act include:
• Giving the Schools Inspectorate greater opportunities to impose sanctions if schools neglect their duties. Students’ right to special support will be strengthened. If parents feel their children are not getting the support they need with their studies, they can appeal against school administrators’ decisions.
• Municipal and independent schools will be governed by the same regulations as much as possible.
• Preschools will be classed as a separate type of school.

After the proposal has been circulated for comment, the government will present a bill in the spring of 2010. The government intends for the new act to take effect July 1, 2011.

Sweden and Finland are the only countries in the world that serve free school lunches. Photo: Anette Andersson/99Bilder 

Ten years of schooling

The Swedish education system provides various types of schooling and education, designed for individuals of different ages and with differing needs and abilities.

The Swedish Education Act states that all children and young people are to have equal access to education, regardless of gender, where they live or social or economic factors. Schooling is free in Sweden, except for nursery schools and higher education (although these are partly funded by the government).

Attendance at school is compulsory for all children aged 7—16. Today almost all children also attend non-compulsory preschool class at the age of six. In practice, this means ten years of schooling in all.

Schools for different needs

Compulsory schooling also includes Sami school, special school (specialskola), and programs for students with intellectual disabilities (särskola). Special school is intended for children who are deaf, hearing impaired, have serious language disorders or who have a visual impairment in combination with other disabilities. (Non-compulsory schooling includes preschool, high school for students with intellectual disabilities, municipal adult education, and adult education for those with intellectual disabilities.)

Preschool

Nursery school and preschool are open to children from one to five years of age. Municipalities have an obligation to provide such facilities for children whose parents work or study. The Swedish tradition of nursery/preschool emphasizes the importance of play in a child’s development and learning. In the nursery/preschool curriculum, the interests and needs of children are essential parts of their education. Gender-aware education is increasingly common in Swedish nursery/preschools. The aim is for children to have the same opportunities in life, regardless of whether they are male or female.

Preschool class

All children are to be offered a place in a preschool class starting in the fall term of the year they turn six until they start compulsory schooling. The preschool class is designed to stimulate each child’s development and learning, and provide a platform for their future schooling. Preschool is followed by elementary school (lågstadiet) for years 1—3, middle school (mellanstadiet) for years 4—6 and junior high school (högstadiet) for years 7—9.

Children between six and twelve are offered daycare before and after school hours. Daycare can be at an after-school center, a family daycare home or an open after-school program.

Senior high school

Senior high school (gymnasium) is non-compulsory and also free of charge. Students who have completed junior high school with at least a pass in Swedish, mathematics and English are entitled to a place at senior high school. Virtually all students who finish compulsory school start senior high school.

Senior-high-school programs run for three years. Students can choose from 17 different programs leading to qualifications to study at colleges and universities. All programs comprise eight core subjects: Swedish (alternatively Swedish as a second language), English, mathematics, science, social studies, religious studies, arts and crafts, physical education and health.

Students who fail to qualify for senior high school can have individual programs tailored to their needs. The aim is for the student to be able to transfer eventually to one of the national programs.

Independent schools and funding

During the 1990s, the terms “school choice” and “independent schools” (in the context of preschool, compulsory school and senior high school) became established, and schools now operate in an open market.

The number of independent schools in Sweden is growing, and a choice of schools is seen today as a right. Each child is allocated the funding for an education, from preschool up to and including senior high school. In this way, the Swedish government supports the establishment of independent schools.

Independent schools must be approved by the Schools Inspectorate and follow the national curricula and syllabuses. Nine percent of compulsory school students and 20 percent of senior high school students attend independent schools.

There are also a few international schools whose curricula follow those of other countries. These schools are partly funded by the Swedish government and are mainly aimed at the children of foreign nationals who are in Sweden for a limited time.

Students who need special support generally attend ordinary classes in nine-year compulsory school and senior high school. Students with intellectual disabilities are offered a special program. They can either be included in an ordinary group or form a special group often within an ordinary school. 

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