Published: Less than 20 min ago
A nationalization of the Swedish school can take 20 years to complete. This is what the government’s special investigator Thomas Persson writes on DN Debatt.
Now he presents two options for how a full or partial nationalization can take place.
After nearly two years of work, Thomas Persson, director general at the Norwegian University of Applied Sciences Authority, submits his report to the government. On DN Debatt, he presents the investigation’s two main alternatives, both of which advocate a more state-controlled school organization.
The investigation’s first alternative involves a “complete nationalization of the public school” and would mean that 200,000 annual workers and 200 billion kroner are transferred from the municipalities to the state.
“We can see, among other things, that a complete nationalization would simplify the school’s power chain, lead to economies of scale and facilitate capacity building in the public schools. But the reform would take a long time and have major consequences for both the municipalities and the state,” writes Thomas Persson, adding that such a process would take upwards of 20 years to complete.
The investigation’s other alternative is for the state to strengthen its responsibility – but without taking over leadership from the municipalities.
“In the same way as in the first alternative, governance – including the governance tasks that currently rest with the municipalities – is concentrated to a large extent in the state, but the operation of the public schools and the employer’s responsibility for the public school staff remain with the municipalities,” writes Thomas Persson.
The school investigation will be presented in its entirety on Monday. The government will then take a position on the proposed alternatives.
Facts
The investigation into increased state responsibility for schools
The investigation’s mission since December 2020:
Suggest how the state can take over the employership of teachers and school leaders and possibly other professional groups in the schools run by public principals (municipalities).
Propose a model where the state is responsible for financing the school.
Suggest how the state can take over the responsibility for management of education and the day-to-day operations of the schools that are currently run by public principals.
Analyze the consequences for, among other things, municipal self-government.
The investigation’s additional tasks since March 2022:
Analyze how the state’s responsibility for the school system can be strengthened in other forms than through nationalization.
Analyze how the state’s responsibility for komvux can be strengthened.
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