The Swedish educational system
The national educational system of Sweden
 | The Swedish public school system (www.skolverket.se) comprises of compulsory school (9 years) and various types of voluntary schooling. Compulsory school includes compulsory basic school, school for the Saami people of northern Sweden, special school for children with impaired sight, hearing or speech, and compulsory school for mentally handicapped. Voluntary schools comprise of upper secondary school, municipal adult education and education for mentally handicapped adults. |
Tuition in the state schools is free. Neither pupils nor their parents usually incur any costs for teaching materials, school meals, health care or school transport.
The vast majority of schools in Sweden are municipally-run, which means that the municipality is the principal. Typically, children attend a municipal school close to their home. However, the pupils and their parents are entitled to choose another municipal school, or a school that is run independently.
Independent schools are open to all children and must have been approved by the National Agency for Education. Independent schools have more or less the same teaching objectives as municipal schools but can have a somewhat different orientation. Typically, independent schools have a different orientation compared to municipal schools, including special teaching methods (Montessori or Waldorf), a linguistic/ethnic orientation, or a certain religious profile. If the school does not comply with current regulations, the National Agency for Education can withdraw its permit.
The most recent curriculum for compulsory education (Lpo 94) entered into effect in 1994. A common curriculum is used for regular compulsory school, Sami school, compulsory school for the learning disabled and special school. This curriculum was amended in 1998 to also include the preschool class and leisure time centers. The curriculum states the school's fundamental values and basic objectives and guidelines. There are also nationally approved syllabi for the individual subjects.
Every municipality has to adopt a local school plan that shows how the schools in that municipality will be organized and developed. The curriculum, syllabi and school plan then allow the principals, teachers and students of individual schools the flexibility to adapt content, organization and work methods to local conditions. The planning of these elements is laid out in the school's work plan.