“Horrifying” and “terrible”, says Education Minister Lotta Edholm (L) about the big knife fight in Eskilstuna where four boys aged 15 were injured.
Now she demands a tougher crackdown on crime in the school environment.
– The school for that age category is probably Sweden’s biggest crime scene, she says in Nyhetsmorgon.
Four 15-year-old boys were injured in connection with the big knife fight at Munktellarenan in Eskilstuna on Thursday. Three boys were arrested for attempted murder, but were released on Friday.
Now Education Minister Lotta Edholm (L) is speaking out about the incident.
– It’s absolutely horrible, of course. It is another such act of violence that we absolutely do not want to see. What is unpleasant is that violent crimes creep down in age, she says in TV4’s Nyhetsmorgon.
– It’s terrible, is what it is.
“Tendency to excuse school violence”
The education minister says that a changed way of thinking is needed in the issues of violence and crime among young people.
– We must see crime as crime regardless of whether it takes place in the world of the school or outside the school. In the past, there has been a tendency to excuse violence in schools because it is young people who carry it out, she says.
Lotta Edholm wants to see several changes within the school. Bringing the social service into the school, that the school should not be considered a public place and tougher action against young criminals are some of the suggestions.
– About 45 percent of all 15-year-olds have been exposed to crime, and the school for that age category is probably Sweden’s biggest crime scene, she says.
New laws in place “within a few years”
The Minister of Education also talked about the need for emergency schools where students in need of help and support can be placed.
– We cannot be as permissive towards students who subject other students and teachers to violence and threats. It is completely unacceptable that they can remain in school, she says.
Some new legislation that the government wants to introduce may be in place “within a year”, according to the education minister.
– But we also need a change in attitude. Parents need to take more responsibility for their children, talk to them and be out in the evenings to see what they are up to.