For several years, both the School Administration and the City of Gothenburg wanted to close the Römosses schools in Gårdsten. It was then a school with a Muslim focus. There were reports of circumcision on the school’s premises, the School Inspectorate criticized gender-separated lessons and the principal was sentenced to prison for, among other things, embezzlement.
Maryed Alhelali, who is now in ninth grade at the school, says it was a tough time for the students then.
– You didn’t know if you would be allowed to stay. But didn’t know what would happen to one and you didn’t know why it would happen. We read so much and what we read was not always right. No one asked us what we could do but everything just happened so quickly.
Forced to close
When the school inspectorate, with the support of the court of appeals, forced the school to close a year and a half ago, the Rescue Mission took over. It is an organization that is run on a Christian basis with support from both the business community and various local associations and which already previously ran a school in another vulnerable area in Gothenburg, Tynnered.
But the fact that a former Muslim school was taken over by a Christian organization was quite unproblematic according to the acting principal at the school, Niclas Hansén.
– The fact that we come from a Christian context is somehow better than coming from something completely secular in these contexts, so that you somehow sanction people’s right to actually have faith. But we consider ourselves an open-minded school. We think it is important to strengthen different traditions.
Got the best results
In the Swedish Education Agency’s latest measurement, the Community School in Gårdsten got the best results in all of Gothenburg compared to what is expected of them considering the percentage of students who are recent immigrants and their parents’ level of education. And according to Niclas Hansén, it is partly due to the commitment of both management and teachers.
– Our main mission is to be present where society’s needs are greatest. And most often it’s about helping students change their view of their own learning.
The student Maryed Alhelali also points out that the teachers’ commitment is important.
– The whole school is like a big family here. We can get help with anything. Even after school, they stay extra with us. We also have students from Chalmers who come here and help us if we need it. They care so much, even if they don’t have to.