AcadeMedia comments on School Minister Lotta Edholm's press conference on July 7, 2023

Most of the new additional directives are known since the Tidö agreement and can lead to further predictability for independent schools. However, it is problematic that the government chooses to disregard many of the challenges that exist within the school; focusing on operating methods for independent schools does not solve the school's fundamental problems.

The issues related to profit that will now be investigated are not expected to affect AcadeMedia's long-term operations. The stated aim of the government is that "rogue and unsuitable actors should not be allowed to exist in the school system".

"We welcome that the government highlights the quality requirements so clearly and that it also applies to municipal principals. The fact that they want different types of sanctions for schools that do not meet these requirements is not surprising. The stricter requirements for owners and management are also positive for the school sector”, says Jonas Nordström, General Counsel at AcadeMedia.

AcadeMedia has for many years called for a broad political agreement on a long-term regulatory framework for independent schools. However, it is problematic that the government chooses to disregard all the challenges that exist in the school, focusing on how businesses are run for independent schools does not solve the school's fundamental problems.

"It is worrying that the Minister for Education only focuses on forms of operation when the school has so many bigger and more important challenges. The government, like nearly a million parents, should rather see independent schools as a resource to continue to solve the societal challenges we face”, says Paula Hammerskog, Head of Communications at AcadeMedia.

Much of what was presented today was already included in the Tidö Agreement. AcadeMedia's comments on it can be found here: https://old.academedia.duvadev.se/en/news/academedia-comments-on-the-incoming-governments-agreement-concerning-schools/

The investigation will be completed on February 28, 2025. After that, a legislative proposal will be produced, which will then go on referral before being presented for a vote in the Riksdag.

Link to the press conference (in Swedish): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmbeKH-WffQ