The budget announcement about the scrapped state subsidy raises concerns within the preschool sector and the Teachers’ Union, which fears that already large groups of children will become even larger. But the government does not agree – but considers it a simplification for the pre-school system.
– We have combined two state grants to reduce the administration for the preschools and ensure that the money they actually need gets to them faster, says Gulan Avci (L), party secretary, in a debate on SVT’s Aktuellt on Thursday.
SKR positive
Sweden’s municipalities and regions (SKR), which represents the municipalities, thinks the decision is positive. They write to SVT that there is nothing to indicate that the children’s groups would become larger.
The Swedish National Agency for Education recommends a maximum of 12 children in toddler groups and 15 for older preschoolers. But statistics from the authority show that nearly half of the country’s preschools do not follow the recommendations. The National Board of Education’s recommendation will remain in place – regardless of the government’s proposal for discontinued support.
“Most sick leave”
Annika Strandhäll (S), chairman of S-women, believes that the scrapped state subsidy will lead to larger groups of children and a higher workload on the preschool staff.
– We have a situation where preschool teachers and childminders are among the groups in the Swedish welfare system that are most sick on sick leave due to psychological stress in the workplace, she says.
But Gulan Avci (L) believes that it is not the politicians at the national level who should “sit and dictate what is needed” when the preschools plan their activities.
– I think it is important that the principals of these preschools are allowed to make that assessment themselves, she says in Aktuellt.
See the full debate in Current on SVT Play.