Helena Svalerud Professor, Uppsala University (Labor Economics)
Sweden did not close schools for students under 16 during the pandemic. Face-to-face classes continued in kindergartens, elementary schools, and lower secondary schools. Instead, upper secondary schools, universities, and adult education have shifted entirely to distance learning. This is a different option from the repeated closing and reopening of schools depending on the epidemic situation in Korea and other countries. Why did the Swedes keep their schools open without shaking? On September 21st in Stockholm, I met Helena Svalerud, a professor of labor economics at Uppsala University, who participated in the Corona Committee survey on education and school policies during the pandemic.
I want to ask you the most curious thing first. Why didn’t Sweden close schools during the pandemic?
Because it is very important for children to go to school. Basically, in Swedish society, going to school is important and there is a consensus that if a school closes, it will come back at a big cost in the future. Both in terms of learning and in nurturing. Another important reason is that parents need to send their children to school so they can go to work. During the COVID-19 pandemic, health care workers were essential workers, but if schools are closed and children stay at home, they will not be able to go to work.
The decision not to close kindergartens, elementary schools, and middle schools attended by students under the age of 16 was made based on studies showing that young children are less susceptible to and spread of COVID-19 than adults. Several studies have shown that most children are infected with COVID-19 at home, not at school. It was a matter of considerable agreement in the medical community).
Closing schools would have the advantage of a little bit more control over the virus as the virus spreads less than when students go to school. On the other hand, however, this incurs exorbitant costs. Restrictions on schooling make it even more difficult for children from disadvantaged backgrounds (such as their parents’ economic power).
Was there any objection from parents to continuing school even when the COVID-19 pandemic was severe? You must be concerned about the increased risk of getting your child infected.
From the beginning of the epidemic, the Swedish Public Health Agency has been constantly alerting the elderly, especially those over 70, that although it is very dangerous, it does not significantly affect the health of children. The Public Health Service has been trying to lower public fears. So, there was no opposition from parents. There were some families who were reluctant to let their children go to school. However, refusing to attend school without permission is illegal in Sweden. According to the law, the police come to the house. Schools have persuaded parents to reconsider if there are families who do not want to send their children to school because of fears about COVID-19. A relatively large dissatisfaction came from among teachers. In fact, many teachers have contracted COVID-19, and some have become ill.
What if a student gets COVID-19?
If the test results are positive, you should stay home (until your symptoms go away). However, in the spring of 2020, it was difficult to receive a COVID-19 test because of a shortage of diagnostic kits. Therefore, the test subjects were limited to people with very severe symptoms, and children were rarely tested because they did not show any symptoms even if they were infected with COVID-19. In 2020, even if someone in your family was diagnosed with COVID-19, you could go to school if you were not sick (I don’t know if you have Corona 19). However, from 2021, if there is an infected person in the family, there is a recommendation to refrain from attending school.
Who will take care of a child who cannot attend school after being diagnosed with COVID-19?
Parents may not be able to go to work if their child is sick and stays at home. During that period, the parents’ wages are guaranteed according to the government’s social security system. This is a system that was in effect before the COVID-19 outbreak. It is called VAB (Vård av Barn) for short.
How has the pandemic affected Swedish students?
I did a study on the ‘mental health’ of students during the COVID-19 pandemic. When we compared the number of visits to counseling centers between middle school students who continued to attend school and high school students who received distance learning, no significant difference was found between the two groups. It is also difficult to determine whether there is a change in the academic achievement of students. In Sweden, ninth graders take a common test once a year (different from university entrance exams). However, this common test did not take place in 2020 and 2021 because students are crowded in narrow classrooms. It is still difficult to clearly understand the impact of COVID-19 on students.
The Corona Committee dealt with the ‘impact of distance learning’ in its second report released in October 2021. The Corona Committee said that the accessibility of remote classes was good, but some processes in vocational education, such as practical training, were disrupted. Also, distance learning was suitable for some, but not all, students with neuropsychiatric disorders, particularly difficulties. As a result, the Swedish education system has become less equitable during the pandemic.
How do you personally evaluate the Swedish government’s school policy in response to COVID-19?
It was the right decision to keep the school door open. Perhaps there are long-term effects that are not yet known. However, the Corona Committee points out that Sweden’s initial response was too late, and I agree with this view. When there was a massive outbreak in Italy in February 2020, the Swedish public health agency said there would be no such risk in Sweden. It’s very strange.
Of course, I couldn’t find out what I know now in February or March 2020, but if I go back to that time, I would have decided to close the middle school for a while as a precaution only in the early days of the epidemic and then reopen it soon. Then, I think that it would have been able to slow the rapid spread of the virus and protect teachers. However, elementary schools and kindergartens would still not be closed.
© EPN