The number of religious free schools in Sweden is decreasing.
Among the 63 schools that have a confessional orientation, there will soon be only one left with a Muslim profile, reports Svenska Dagbladet.
In recent years, controls and legislation have been tightened for the country’s various religious free schools.
Today, there are 63 schools with a so-called denominational focus, which makes up just under one percent of Sweden’s students. The vast majority, 59, have a Christian orientation, two have a Jewish profile and two free schools are Muslim.
Soon the latter category may be down to one since Cordoba International School, with over 500 students, had its permit revoked by the School Inspectorate. The decision was made after Säpo warned about links to violent Islamism.
Jenny Berglund, professor of religious didactics at Stockholm University, is surprised at how many Muslim independent schools have been closed in Sweden.
– There is great variation between Muslim independent schools in how they function. Many have been very well functioning schools from what I have seen. But when you’re out at a school, interviewing teachers and sitting in on classes, you don’t see what the ownership structure looks like, says Jenny Berglund to SvD.
Cordoba International School has appealed the decision, which will take effect on January 8.
If the school is closed down, Växjö Islamic school will then be the only one remaining in the country with a Muslim profile.
The Social Democrats and the Left Party want to ban religious free schools, as do the Liberals – but the Tidö parties do not agree on that issue.