“Vicious remarks” about free schools in Swedish election campaign
Swedish school. Photo Facebook, Johannesskolan - Norrköpings kristna skola
Northern Europe
During the election campaign in Sweden, many remarks about independent schools were “vicious and irrelevant”. Ulla Hamilton, President of the National Confederation of Free Schools, argues that the fierce discussion is unnecessary.
The debate on the freedom of independent schools focuses too much on the financial aspects of schools, Hamilton argues in an opinion article in Altinget. Instead of questioning whether independent schools should receive dividends and make a profit, the government should pay attention to the problem of students leaving primary school without complete grades and insufficient knowledge, she writes.
The Swedish government has launched several attacks on independent schools. Earlier this year, the authorities attempted to pass a ban on founding new denominational, including Christian, schools. The Minister of Education even wanted a complete ban, including one of the existing independent schools.
A few months later, the Minister of Education proposed tightening regulations for private schools, which would limit their finances and make it hard for them to expand.
According to Hamilton, it is sad that the debate frames independent schools as if they are only about making profits. "Our members have started independent schools because they know how school activities can be run. The fact that many then choose the AB business form does not mean that they should be accused of being profit hunters", she writes in her article.
Instead, independent schools have many advantages, the President of the Free Schools confederation argues. Because they are often smaller, testing new approaches and ideas is easier. Furthermore, the relationship between students and teachers is "usually more tangible."
If independent schools disappear from Sweden, parents and students are limited in their right to choose a school, Hamilton warns. She writes that freedom of choice is popular. According to her, that is seen in the growing number of students at independent schools. "That shows that the country's independent schools continue to do a fantastic job. Otherwise, they would hardly attract new students."
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