Published: Less than 1 hour ago
The Social Democrats are going to the polls to increase support for 150 schools in vulnerable areas.
According to the party, one billion kroner a year should contribute to smaller teaching groups, less mess and two teachers in the classrooms.
The Social Democrats (S) are trying to make the school a profile issue in the election.
The party is now presenting an investment in students and teachers in socio-economically vulnerable areas. The Swedish National Agency for Education has previously distributed money to the schools in Sweden where the needs are greatest. There are currently around 150 schools.
S wants to increase support by one billion a year, which, according to the party, should make it possible to employ twice as many teachers in the core subjects, reduce class sizes and improve student health. This, in turn, should lead to more students moving on to upper secondary school.
– It is an election promise that we are going forward with here, says the Social Democrats’ party secretary Tobias Baudin.
– We are targeting 150 of the schools in our country that have problems with inequality, disorder and too few resources.
“The state as guarantor”
Education Minister Lina Axelsson Kihlblom (S) emphasizes that there are many talented principals out there, but that they need support.
– We want the state to be a good guarantor for all of Sweden’s schools.
From 2021, the Swedish National Agency for Education distributes state grants for better working environments and working conditions for teachers in socio-economically vulnerable areas. The money goes to both individual and independent schools. The new support must also be able to go to independent schools, despite S saying that they want to “clean up the market swamp” in the Swedish school.
– It must go to schools in need. But we can’t pump millions into a school, while a school takes out millions in profit, says Kihlblom.
TT: So should support be weighted against the profit that a school makes?
– I think it’s a matter of course that we can’t give a lot of grants to a school if you take it out as a profit, the second you get it in the account.
At the same time, she emphasizes that Sweden has a tradition of schools based on ideas, and that she “would like to see many independent schools in Sweden.”
Low income
Lina Axelsson Kihlblom cannot specify exactly which factors will determine what support a principal receives today. And in the end, it will be up to each principal to decide where the money is best suited.
– It is important to get it right and that we actually have a good follow-up system and see results. After all, it is a large sum of money.
According to the minister of education, the reason why people see a need for such an investment at all is poverty, parents’ educational background and segregation.
– After six years in a Swedish school, there is no difference between being born in Sweden or in another country. Some people think that it is important, says Lina Axelsson Kihlblom.