Compulsory schooling starts at the age of seven in Sweden, but the vast majority
of kids attend pre-school and complete a preparatory year at the age of six.
Education is free in Sweden, there is usually no charge for teaching materials,
school meals, health services or transport, and the city of Stockholm furthermore
provides free adult education.
It is not compulsory to attend upper secondary school, although almost everyone
does. Upper secondary education is divided into 17 national 3-year programmes.
All of the programmes offer a broad general education and esnure a basic eligibility
to continue studies to the post-secondary level. Alongside the national programmes,
a number of specially designed and individual study programmes also exist.
The Swedish Education Act ensures that all children
and youths have equal access to education, consideration is given to students
with special needs, and the Education Act also extends to the education of adults
which may be provided through municipally-run adult education (called Komvux
in Sweden), or in adult education for adults with learning disabilities (called
Särvux). The National Agency for Education is there to ensure that the provisions
of the Education Act are being complied with and that the rights of the individual
student are respected. To a large extent each municipality may determine how
its schools are run. Using the approved curriculum, national objectives and
the local school plan, the principal of each school draws up a local work plan
in consultation with the school's teachers and other personnel.
The school year normally begins at the end of August and runs to the beginning
of June the following year, comprising a total of about 40 weeks. Included in
compulsory schooling are the regular compulsory school, Sami school, special
school, and programmes for pupils with learning disabilities. The 9-year compulsory
school programme is for all children between the ages of 7-16 years. Upon the
request of the parents, a child may begin school one year earlier, at the age
of 6. Sami children can receive education in Sami School that covers grades
1-6. This schooling corresponds to the first 6 years of compulsory school. Special
schools offer a 10-year programme for the deaf and hard of hearing. Programmes
for pupils with learning disabilities include compulsory school and training
school for pupils with severe learning disabilities.
Most children attend a municipal school close
to their home. However, students and their parents have the right to choose
another municipal school, or a privately run (independent) school. Only a very
small minority of students attend one of the country's approved independent
schools.
Independent schools are open to everyone and
must be approved by the National Agency for Education.
The municipality in which the student resides pays the school a per student/per
year grant. The independent schools have the same basic objectives as municipal
ones but may have a different profile, such as a particular religious character
or use of a special educational approach like Montessori or Waldorf.
For more information about education in Sweden follow the following links:
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