Swedish students risk their grades to party

Sweden’s students spend thousands of kroner on alcohol and partying on student trips during school hours – but partying has a downside. Many students are unable to graduate with passing grades.
– I understand that you want to celebrate, but do it after graduation, says high school teacher Jan Svärdhagen to Efter fem.

Going on a student trip together with classmates has become increasingly popular. This year, it is estimated that at least 10,000 young Swedish high school students will be heading towards destinations such as Magaluf, Sunny Beach and Rhodes. And to get a better insight into the student party, 2 of Aftonbladet’s reporters, Nelly Kronstrand and Erik Björklund, went on a trip to Magaluf. And they were busy keeping up with the increased pace:

– You’re completely exhausted just keeping up with their pace, it’s absolutely sick, says Nelly Kronstrand to Efter fem.

Expensive partying

A little sleep and a lot of partying makes the money roll, 20,000 kroner is not unusual to spend in a week.

– After all, many have worked extra jobs throughout high school in order to be able to afford it. Others have taken help from mum and dad, explains Nelly Kronstrand.

– It’s very “oniony” here, it’s a party for a whole week, says Erik Björklund to Efter fem.

Risking their grades

But the celebration also has a flip side. The vast majority of student trips take place before the end of school. This means that the students miss a whole week of teaching at the end of the term.

– During a week like this, at least 60-70 percent of my students can be gone. Sometimes there may only be one or two students left in the classroom, says Jan Svärdhagen, who is a teacher at Kristinegymnasiet in Falun.

And the absence during the last weeks of the semester can have devastating consequences for many students.

– We even have students who can’t make it, they have an F warning but go anyway. They might have graduated with full marks if they had stayed at home, says Jan Svärdhagen

Hard to say no

The trips are often booked a year in advance, often after quite aggressive marketing from the tour operators. And in order to afford to go with them, many students work so much that they have difficulty completing their studies. But the pressure from the group to travel is great.

– And yet, when I ask students afterwards what they appreciated the most, most answer that it is the last student week, at home, says Jan Svärdhagen and adds:

– Travel after graduation. Invest in your studies, it’s your future that’s at stake!