2011
Press release 21 September 2011 Ministry of Education and Research Major investments in education in the Budget Bill The Budget Bill contains major investments in education. These include a maths boost with continuing professional development for teachers, a teacher reform with career stages for good teachers, a quality drive in humanities and social sciences at higher education institutions, and more places on training programmes for doctors, dentists and nurses. More places will also be available on Master of Science in Engineering programmes.
Below is a description of the most important reforms in the area of education in this autumn's budget.
Higher status for the teaching profession and improved skills in schools To break the downward trend in learning outcomes among Swedish pupils, it is necessary to strengthen teachers' skills and the status of the teaching profession. In the Budget Bill, SEK 3.8 billion has been allocated for the years 2012-2015 to strengthen teachers' skills and raise the status of the teaching profession.
Career development reform The Government is allocating funds for a career development reform, with advancement stages for professionally skilled teachers in compulsory and upper secondary school. The advancement stages, together with any qualifications required, will be described in the Education Act. Salaries and terms of employment will be set by the parties in the usual way. The state will cover the costs incurred by education authorities through the reform in the form of government grants.
Boost for Teachers II Boost for Teachers II is being introduced. This is an investment in continuing professional development, which will mean that teachers who have accreditation but are not qualified in one of the subjects or for one of the year groups they teach will be offered education to meet the qualification requirements.
Continuing professional development funds for vocational teachers The Government is allocating special continuing professional development funds for vocational teachers to offer them the opportunity to regularly take part in practical activities in workplaces within their subject area.
Further education for unqualified teachers For the period 2012-2014, SEK 400 million has been allocated for further training of unqualified teachers so that they can complete their teaching qualification. Higher education institutions may credit applicants for previous teaching experience and offer individualised programmes.
Research institutes for teachers A number of higher education institutions organise research institutes for teachers. For the period 2012-2014, SEK 200 million has been allocated for the education programmes themselves and some of the education authorities' costs for a teacher's salary. This way we can get more teachers with postgraduate degrees into the education system.
Quality drive for higher pay for school-based teaching practice as part of teacher training To improve the quality of teacher training programmes, remuneration for school-based teaching practice is estimated to increase by SEK 94 million. Of these funds, SEK 40 million is new for teacher training and SEK 54 million is redistributed from other parts of teacher training.
Redistribution of places in teacher training between various higher education institutions Places on education programmes are to be redistributed from higher education institutions that have not been granted authorisation to award degrees for the various specialisations of the new teacher training programme to higher education institutions that have passed the quality assessment of the Swedish National Agency for Higher Education and have the capacity to take on more teacher training students. Therefore, the total number of teacher training places will not be reduced, despite the fact that a number of higher education institutions have lost their authorisation to award degrees and thus their right to provide teacher training. Major maths boost to be implemented A major investment will be made in mathematics in Swedish schools.
Continuing professional development for maths teachers The Government plans to make a special investment in continuing professional development for maths teachers in compulsory school, upper secondary school and adult education. This initiative is to support teachers in developing pupils' knowledge and abilities in line with the new curricula, subject plans and syllabuses. A total of SEK 800 million will be invested in the period 2012-2015.
More teaching hours in maths To strengthen maths as one of compulsory school's core subjects, the number of teaching hours in maths in compulsory school will be increased by 120 hours, starting in the autumn term of 2013. This means one extra hour per week for three year groups. For this reform, the Government is allocating SEK 250 million for 2013 and SEK 500 million per year from 2014.
Reading-writing-arithmetic initiative It is important that pupils receive individually designed support to learn the basic skills of reading, writing and arithmetic during their first years in compulsory school. The Government has therefore implemented a reading-writing-arithmetic initiative for the years 2008-2011. The government grant can be used to employ extra staff, carry out measures to improve skills and buy teaching aids. The initiative will also continue in 2012, with SEK 250 million having been allocated.
Major expansion of important medical training programmes The Swedish health care sector is in great need of trained, competent staff. Several agencies are warning of serious shortages of doctors, nurses and dentists in the future - unless more staff are trained. On several previous occasions, the Government has increased the number of places on various medical training programmes to meet the needs of the labour market. The demand for staff having completed a degree in health and medical care or dental care is nevertheless expected to increase more quickly than supply, due to a rise in care needs and the age structure among those currently working in the sector. The Government is now proposing an expansion of important medical training programmes. An additional 50 places for new students will be offered in medical school in 2012, and an extra 250 places are planned in future budget bills. An additional 700 places per year for new students should be offered on nursing training programmes over the next few years. An additional 100 places for new students will be available on specialist nursing training programmes in 2012. An additional 12 places for new students will be offered on dentistry training programmes in 2012, and an extra 40 places are planned in coming years.
The new places are being financed through the redistribution of funds.
More places on Master of Science in Engineering programmes Swedish industry is in great need of well-trained engineers. Following a decline over several years in the numbers interested in engineering degrees, we are now seeing an increase in numbers of applications to Master of Science in Engineering programmes. To meet this growing interest, the Government is expanding Master of Science in Engineering programmes by 400 places in 2012, and has plans for an additional 200 places in 2013. The new places are being financed through the redistribution of funds.
Quality drive in humanities and social sciences The huge increase in the number of places in higher education in the 1990s has led to a deterioration in quality. The humanities and social sciences have suffered in particular. On several occasions, the Government has carried out targeted initiatives in these areas, but as the needs remain great, a new quality drive totalling SEK 400 million is proposed for 2013. This money will go to higher compensation amounts for the humanities, social sciences, law and theology. The initiative is being financed through the Government's plan to save SEK 440 million on higher education institutions, because part of the current appropriation goes to compensation for people who have signed up for courses but who never attend any lectures.
Incentive funds for mergers of higher education institutions Several higher education institutions risk becoming susceptible to global changes. For example, this applies to higher education institutions with a large number of third-country students, a large number of correspondent students, or a large proportion of the courses they offer concentrated on a few large programmes that have been criticised in evaluations carried out by the Swedish National Agency for Higher Education, such as teacher training and nursing programmes. One way of reducing vulnerability and increasing quality in both higher education and research is for more higher education institutions to merge. Changes in organisation should be based on higher education institutions' own assessments and be done on a voluntary basis. To increase incentives for voluntary mergers, the Government proposes that incentive funds be allocated. SEK 20 million has been allocated for 2012, and SEK 75 million per year for subsequent years has been calculated.
Research results must be put to use Research results from higher education institutions must benefit society, for example by being commercialised. The holding companies of higher education institutions are one important type of tool for commercialisation. The Government proposes that higher education institutions and their holding companies receive special funds (SEK 19 million in 2012, then SEK 12 million per year) to build up 'idea banks' of research results. It is proposed that the two universities currently without holding companies - Örebro University and Mid Sweden University - be permitted to each create their own holding company. For this, both universities will be allowed to use SEK 1 million each in 2012.
More student grants From the autumn term 2011, foreign students from countries outside the EU/EES and Switzerland who are not taking part in exchange programmes have to pay for their education in Sweden. In connection with the introduction of fees, two grant programmes were created. One of the grant programmes is targeted at especially well-qualified students from all over the world, and the other is intended for the twelve countries with which Sweden has long-term development cooperation. The Government is now proposing an increase in the grant programme. It will increase from SEK 30 million to SEK 50 million per year.
Technology leap To attract pupils on upper secondary natural science programmes to enter higher education studies and ultimately a career in the area of technology, they are to be offered work experience placements at companies involved in the technology industry. The Government proposes that SEK 20 million be allocated in 2013.
Reinforcement of national tests The national subject tests are an important way of supporting equivalent and fair grading. The results of a pupil's national tests are also important in helping the teacher to determine whether that pupil needs more support and assistance. For national tests to fulfill their function, they must be conducted in such a way that they follow the correct procedures and the assessment is objective. The Government therefore intends to task the National Agency for Education with development and quality-assurance of the national subject tests. The Government proposes that SEK 15 million per year be allocated from 2013.
Swedish Schools Inspectorate and National Agency for Education to receive additional resources to strengthen workplace-based learning The National Agency for Education is to be tasked with taking measures that could help to raise the attraction of vocational education and training and to assure quality in workplace-based learning. The remit includes developing attractive supervisors' training for those people in companies who take care of vocational pupils. The Government is investing SEK 10 million per year in 2012 and 2013.
SEK 120 million for continuing professional development in pre-school To live up to the requirements of the new Education Act and curriculum, the Government considers that heads of pre-schools and pre-school teachers need additional opportunities to develop their skills. The Government proposes investments in continuing professional development for pre-school teachers and pre-school heads totalling approximately SEK 120 million for the period 2012-2014 in the areas of follow-up and evaluation, and children in need of special assistance.
More places in vocationally oriented upper secondary adult education and vocational higher education To encourage more young people to take part in regular education, the Government is proposing a temporary increase in the number of places available in vocationally oriented upper secondary adult education and vocational higher education. The Government is investing a total of SEK 750 million for the period 2012-2013 in 7 500 new places in vocationally oriented upper secondary adult education and vocational higher education.
Contact Eva-Marie Byberg Press Secretary to Jan Björklund +46 8 405 25 03 +46 70 188 65 55 email to Eva-Marie Byberg Elin Boberg Press Secretary to Jan Björklund +46 8 405 31 02 +46 70 206 99 09 email to Elin Boberg Yoav Bartal Press Secretary to Nyamko Sabuni +46 8 405 10 00
Press release 18 February 2011 Ministry of Education and Research Nyamko Sabuni to speak at UN Commission on Status of Women Next week sees the start of the annual UN meeting looking at global gender equality challenges. Over 3 500 delegates from around the world will take part in the UN Commission on the Status of Women, which this year focuses on the access of girls and women to education.
Time and place Download Selected events from Ms Sabuni's programme Programme for Sweden's side event (pdf 127 kB) Tuesday 22 February - 13.15 Opening address at Sweden's seminar on education, gender equality and development. See separate programme for further information. External links Wednesday 23 February - 09.00 Meeting with Margot Wallström, UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict. Website of the UN - 10.30 Visit to a school in Harlem, Harlem Children's Zone. Commission on the Status of - 13.15 Ministerial lunch with head of UN Women Michelle Bachelet. Women - 15.00 Nordic side event entitled 'Why access and participation of girls and boys to education pays off - a Website of UN Women Nordic perspective'.
Thursday 24 February - Before 13.00: Speech in the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.
The Swedish delegation will be led by Minister for Gender Equality Nyamko Sabuni. In her speech, Ms Sabuni will focus on the traditions that discriminate against girls and prevent them going to school, such as child marriage.
"Child marriage is one of the greatest obstacles to girls attending school. With my speech, I want to urge world leaders to work actively to combat child marriage," says Ms Sabuni.
Sweden will also hold its own seminar on gender equality, education and development on 22 February. HRH Princess Madeleine will attend the seminar.
A long list of ministers and over 3 500 delegates, including representatives of NGOs from around the world, will take part in the 55th session of the Commission on the Status of Women in New York. It runs from 22 February to 4 March and this year's overarching theme is 'Access and participation of women and girls in education, training, science and technology, including for the promotion of women's equal access to full employment and decent work'.
Contact Yoav Bartal Press Secretary to Nyamko Sabuni +46 8 405 10 00 2010
Press release 05 October 2010 Prime Minister's Office Sweden's new government Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt has appointed the following government ministers today, 5 October 2010
Ministers and their press contacts are listed below. For new ministers, the press contact given is temporary and applies until further notice.
Prime Minister: Fredrik Reinfeldt Roberta Alenius +46 70 270 72 17
Markus Nordström +46 70 238 67 30
Minister for EU Affairs: Birgitta Ohlsson Jenny Sonesson +46 70 308 44 06
Minister for Justice: Beatrice Ask Martin Valfridsson +46 70 274 10 22
Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy: Tobias Billström Markus Friberg +46 702 61 30 84
Minister for Foreign Affairs: Carl Bildt Irena Busic +46 70 271 02 55
Minister for International Development Cooperation: Gunilla Carlsson Peter Larsson +46 70 283 95 97
Minister for Trade: Ewa Björling Monica Ohlsson +46 70 296 18 99
Minister for Defence: Sten Tolgfors Mikael Östlund +46 70 297 43 28
Minister for Health and Social Affairs: Göran Hägglund Petra Kjellarsson +46 70 646 21 12 Minister for Children and the Elderly: Maria Larsson Niclas Thorselius +46 70 509 50 65
Minister for Public Administration and Housing: Stefan Attefall Martin Kits +46 70 535 07 87
Minister for Social Security: Ulf Kristersson Niclas Bengtsson +46 70 353 78 22
Minister for Finance: Anders Borg Daniel Valiollahi +46 72 225 45 47
Minister for Financial Markets: Peter Norman Anna Charlotta Johansson +46 70 356 30 32
Minister for Education and Deputy Prime Minister: Jan Björklund Camilla Hansson +46 70 206 99 09
Minister for Gender Equality (Deputy Minister for Education): Nyamko Sabuni Yoav Bartal +46 70 357 51 94
Minister for Rural Affairs: Eskil Erlandsson Anna-Karin Nyman +46 70 519 01 59
Minister for the Environment: Andreas Carlgren Lennart Bodén +46 70 950 22 45
Minister for Enterprise and Energy: Maud Olofsson Håkan Lind +46 70 269 11 98
Minister for Information Technology and Regional Affairs (Deputy Minister for Enterprise): Anna-Karin Hatt Frank Nilsson +46 70 690 24 33
Minister for Communications: Catharina Elmsäter-Svärd Markus Sjöqvist +46 76 107 20 36
Minister for Culture and Sport: Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth Sara Bengtsson +46 70 358 77 91 Minister for Employment: Hillevi Engström Sebastian Carlsson +46 73 769 22 77
Minister for Integration (Deputy Minister for Employment): Erik Ullenhag Anna Neuman +46 70 301 47 90
Contact Roberta Alenius Presschef hos Fredrik Reinfeldt +46 8 405 49 04 Markus Nordström Press Secretary to Fredrik Reinfeldt +46 8 405 48 72 +46 70 238 67 30 email to Markus Nordström