Before the academic year 2024/25, 131,000 students applied to a national upper secondary school program. Of these, 62.2 per cent applied for a university preparatory course and 37.8 a vocational programme.
Among those preparing for college, the economics program is the hottest, while the percentage of students who choose the aesthetic program is falling. The trend was reinforced during the pandemic, when many cultural jobs disappeared.
Decreased by 4 percent
In one year, applications have declined by 0.8 percent. Since 2011, the same reduction is 4 percent, according to the Swedish National Agency for Education.
– We also see that the number of schools offering aesthetic programs has decreased, especially in smaller towns, says Andreas Bhatti, subject manager for the aesthetic program.
Some of the students who completed the aesthetic program end up at Konstfack. Among other things, to train as an art teacher in primary school or upper secondary school.
“We will need to be more”
Maria Eriksson, lecturer at Konstfack and former high school teacher, believes that the view of aesthetic subjects needs to be reevaluated.
– Take the picture program as an example, we teach the children more than just drawing nicely, she says.
Andreas Albrecht, who is studying to become an art teacher, agrees. He is not worried about his future.
– This is a gigantic field – and we will need to be more, he says.
See more in the feature.