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Photo: Ann-Sofi Rosenkvist
Equal education for all – even abroad All Swedish children have a right to free education. But even if you move abroad, or if you are looking for a boarding school to support a special interest or academic goal, Skolverket (the Swedish National Agency for Education) likely monitors and supports a Swedish school for you. Photos: imagebank.sweden.se
The Swedish tradition of compulsory, free primary school education goes back to 1842, when the parliament voted through a proposal for a four-year so-called folk school. The initial four years were extended little by little and the idea of equal education for children of all classes and backgrounds was protected by law in 1905. Since 1972, all Swedish children must attend nine years of primary and secondary school, starting in August of the year they turn seven. Today, nursery school is also highly subsidised and available for all children from the age of one, and the huge majority of children attend a pre-school year 60 | Issue 95 | December 2016
before starting primary school. Play is central to the teaching environment at these early ages. The task of Skolverket is to support, evaluate and monitor local municipalities and their schools to improve the quality and results throughout. This is done with the aim of protecting the ideal of equal education as established at the turn of the last century and to ensure that all pupils have access to a good education in a safe environment. The education should not just see to the learning and knowledge acquisition of the students, but also provide the opportunity for sound personal development.
In addition to monitoring and supporting state schools and other institutions in Sweden, Skolverket works with Swedish schools abroad to provide an education for Swedish children abroad equivalent to what they would receive in their home country. At present, a total of 18 schools abroad receive state subsidies for preschool and primary school teaching, and some also for the secondary school years. Photo: Lena Granefelt
For more information, please visit: www.skolverket.se