Anyone who wants to become a teacher in the future must have at least grade C in Swedish. Prospective preschool teachers must have at least D, according to the investigation proposal that the government is now receiving.
The consequence will be a sharp loss of new students, the investigation states.
Proposals for stricter admissions requirements are expected, as that is what the government asked for in the directive to investigator Peter Honeth, former Liberal secretary of state at the Department of Education.
In the report he is now handing over to Minister of Education Johan Pehrson (L) and Minister of Schools Lotta Edholm (L) it is also clear what the consequences are.
Counting on fewer dropouts
According to information from the report, the number of beginning students decreases by between 27 and 35 percent, depending on the type of teacher training. On the other hand, dropouts are expected to decrease sharply. Today, half of the students on a course can drop out, and that percentage is estimated to decrease to 25–40 percent.
In addition to slowing down dropouts, the stricter requirements aim to raise the status of teacher education.
It is perceived as an easy education, but it is not and it should not be. It is important to say that this is a demanding education. The profession of teaching is a demanding profession and an education that makes great demands is required, says Peter Honeth at a press meeting with the government.
More Swedish
With fewer students and unchanged grants, there will be more resources for the courses. If the change is to be implemented, now is the right time, because the number of children is decreasing sharply, according to the investigation.
The report also proposes a change to more “school-based” teacher training courses. The most theoretical, abstract parts are scrapped and more time is spent on subjects and subject didactics. Prospective primary and middle school teachers receive more training in Swedish, with an emphasis on learning to read and write.
Swedish is a prerequisite for the studies. It is also the teacher’s most important work tool. You cannot function well as a teacher without knowing the language and being able to appear, listen, read and write for and with the students, says Peter Honeth.