The Local Sweden

Prominent Muslim head of free school seized by security police

Fri, 17 May 2019 13:17:21 +0200

The chief executive of a largely Muslim free school in Gothenburg has been placed in custody by the Swedish Migration Agency on the orders of the country's Säpo security police. It follows the arrests of other Imams in recent months.

Half pupils flunk school in crime-hit Swedish districts

Sun, 03 Jun 2018 12:34:43 +0200

More than half the pupils in many of Sweden’s ‘specially vulnerable’ regions leave elementary school with no qualification, a study carried out by Sweden’s TT newswire has found.

Lottery system proposal for Swedish school enrolment met with criticism

Thu, 20 Apr 2017 18:50:29 +0200

Proposals from a commission set up to find ways of improving Sweden's schools have been met with a mixed reception, with the suggestion of a lottery system for enrolment earning criticism.

Remove free school admission rights: Löfven

Sat, 02 Nov 2013 08:40:00 +0100

The opposition Social Democrats have demanded that state-funded, privately-run free schools lose the right to manage school admissions in the wake of revelations that some schools select their pupils according to academic aptitude.

Free schools shun 'bad pupils' and 'black music'

Wed, 30 Oct 2013 11:57:00 +0100

State-funded, privately-run free schools may be turning away students with less aptitude, in breach of the law, with an undercover TV show revealing one school principal condemning "black music" and back-to-front baseball caps.

Swedish free school system 'needs tweaking'

Tue, 02 Jul 2013 09:33:00 +0200

Twenty years after Sweden's school system opened the door for independent profit-making schools and expanded parents' choice, sliding results have the left-leaning opposition saying the system is a textbook example of privatization gone wrong.

Bankruptcy hits major Swedish free school firm

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 12:22:00 +0200

JB Education, one of Sweden's largest operators of publicly funded, privately managed free schools, announced on Tuesday it would declare bankruptcy.

Major Swedish free school firm to shut down

Fri, 31 May 2013 12:05:00 +0200

JB Education, one of Sweden's largest operators of publicly funded, privately managed free schools, is shutting its operations due to a lack of students.

Swedish parties agree to major free school reform

Thu, 23 May 2013 16:32:00 +0200

The government and its main opposition have agreed to new rules governing performance requirements and profits at publicly funded, privately managed free schools.

Sweden's free schools prompt segregation fears

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 13:50:00 +0100

Sweden's system of state-funded privately-run free schools risks creating increasing segregation in society, international education experts have warned.

Do Sweden's free schools make the grade?

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 15:21:00 +0100

The UK has taken a page out of Sweden's textbook and is surging ahead with the free school movement. The Local’s Christine Demsteader looks at the lessons that can be learned from Sweden's system of publicly-financed, privately-managed schools.

Free schools boost results in public schools

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 16:49:00 +0100

Having more publicly-funded, privately-managed free schools leads to better student performance in Swedish municipalities, even for children that attend regular public schools, a new study has found.

'Free' schools suffer as enrollments drop

Wed, 05 Sep 2012 12:29:00 +0200

Amid a drop in the number of Swedish school students, many of Sweden’s publicly-financed, privately-run ”free” schools are taking a financial beating that some won't be able to survive.

Free school group demands national comparison of schools

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 14:20:00 +0200

The National Organisation of Free Schools (Friskolornas riksförbund) wants to have national statistics on all Swedish schools' ability to reach certain quality criteria collected.

Swedish school in million kronor bullying lawsuit

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 11:55:00 +0200

A school in western Sweden has been sued for almost a million kronor ($160,000) by four families who claim that not enough has been done to help bullied children.

Sweden's free school profits debate heats up

Mon, 30 May 2011 12:52:00 +0200

While applications to start privately-run, publicly-funded free schools (friskolor) are on the rise in Sweden, there is nevertheless gathering unease about the suitability of schools being run by private companies, The Local's Geoff Mortimore explains.

Free school applications hit new highs

Fri, 13 May 2011 13:01:00 +0200

Sweden's independent school sector continues to expand, with applications for new schools increasing 12 percent on 2010, according to new figures from the Swedish Schools Inspectorate (Skolinspektionen).

Minister takes aim at free school 'profits'

Fri, 25 Feb 2011 10:25:00 +0100

Sweden's education minister Jan Björklund has sharpened his tone against privately-run, publicly-funded "free schools", conceding that there are several indications that profit takes precedence over quality.