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Monday, October 20, 2025

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https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/nordic-nations-face-educational-decline-in-pisa-2023-report/

The Nordics

Nordic nations face educational decline in Pisa 2023 report

Published 9 December 2023
– By Editorial Staff
School results are falling sharply in the latest PISA survey.
4 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

The Pisa 2023 report indicates a decline in educational outcomes across Nordic countries, with Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark all reporting lower results in mathematics and reading comprehension compared to previous years.

This downturn is seen as part of a broader trend, where the impact of the pandemic on education is highlighted as a significant factor. Despite this decline, several of these countries still remain above the OECD average in their performances.

The latest PISA 2023 report, recently published by Skolverket, the Swedish National Agency for Education, shows that students in Sweden are now performing at the same level as a decade ago. The results in mathematics and reading comprehension have worsened, and the international comparison also shows that only a handful of countries have managed to improve their results.

Between 2018 and 2022, Sweden has lost 21 points in mathematics and is now ranked 18th, compared to 12th in the previous survey. Reading comprehension has suffered a drop of 19 points, with Sweden now in 14th place, compared to 7th place previously.

Neighboring countries lose out

Norway’s results in mathematics have never been so low since the country began participating in the survey in 2003, Norwegian state broadcaster NRK reported. According to the report, almost one in three students is at the lowest level of knowledge in mathematics. Reading comprehension is also low, but at about the same level as last year.

Since the peak year of 2006, Finnish students’ math skills have been gradually declining. According to the survey, the reading comprehension of one in five Finnish students has also deteriorated. In the past, Finnish-speaking students were at a higher level than Finnish-Swedish students, but this seems to have changed. For the first time, Finnish-Swedish students outperform Finnish-speaking students in math, reports Finnish state broadcaster Yle. In reading and writing, the two groups are now at the same level.

Denmark has lost ground in both reading and math. Girls’ results have deteriorated more than boys’, reports the Danish-Swedish newspaper News Øresund. Denmark is the only Nordic country where boys outperform girls in math and science.

Science results have also deteriorated, with Finland and Denmark performing at a higher level and Norway and Iceland at a lower level compared to Sweden.

“The pandemic effect”

Despite the downward trend, students in Sweden are still above the OECD average. Peter Fredriksson, director general of the Swedish National Agency for Education, notes that Sweden is now in the middle of the pack, and points out that Finland, which has traditionally ranked higher, is now at the same level as Sweden.

– The Pisa study is the third international measure of knowledge this year to show deteriorating results in Sweden. The pattern is similar in most other countries. A large part of the participating students’ time in secondary school has been marked by the pandemic, with high levels of absenteeism and distance learning. This indicates a ‘pandemic effect’, says Peter Fredriksson, director general of the National Agency for Education, in a press release.

The Swedish National Agency for Education identifies the impact of the so-called pandemic as the main reason for the poor results, with distance learning and absenteeism seen as possible causes of the general decline.

The fact that the large influx of immigrants over the past 30-40 years has affected the results of Swedish schools is not new in itself. However, it is something that the Swedish National Agency for Education tries to gloss over as an explanatory model.

“No. If immigration is not taken into account, Swedish students still perform well and are in the top tier. When compared with PISA 2022 and the beginning of the 2000s, Sweden has improved its results. If you consider students with at least one parent born in the country, Sweden is in the top five compared to 11th place when you include all students”, comments a user on Twitter/X.

“Wait and see”

The Swedish National Agency for Education stresses that while the results are worrying for the Swedish school system, it is too early to consider the figures as a long-term trend, and hopes for a recovery when “influencing factors stabilize”.

Peter Fredriksson emphasizes that the results should not be seen as a negative break in the trend.

– We will have to wait and see whether this is a temporary downturn due to the pandemic, he concludes.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

PISA stands for Programme for International Student Assessment. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has overall responsibility for the PISA measurements.

PISA is conducted every three years, which should have taken place in 2021, but due to the pandemic it was postponed to 2022. The results of PISA 2022 will be presented globally and nationally on Tuesday 5 December. PISA measures the knowledge and skills of 15-year-olds in three areas: reading, mathematics and science. In PISA 2022, mathematics is the main subject.

The students who completed PISA 2022 were born in 2006, so most are now in their second year of secondary school. 81 countries/regions have participated in the latest PISA in Europe and globally.

Source: TT

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https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/sharp-increase-in-children-suspected-of-murder-plots-in-sweden/

Sweden

Sharp increase in children suspected of murder plots in Sweden

organized crime

Published today 15:19
– By Editorial Staff
In 2022, 14 children under the age of 15 were suspected of involvement in murder plots. This year, that number has risen to 127.
3 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

The number of minors suspected of planning murders has skyrocketed in a short time, according to new figures from the Swedish Prosecution Authority. More than 120 children under 15 are currently under investigation for planning deadly violence.

At the same time, the Swedish government reports that the fight against gang crime shows some progress – but the development raises concerns.

The government’s initiative against gangs has been a central part of the Tidö Agreement between the governing parties and the Sweden Democrats. Three years after the cooperation began, several sentences have been toughened, the justice system has received increased resources, and police have gained access to new tools.

Despite this, it remains unclear whether organized crime is actually decreasing. However, one clearly positive trend is that the number of shootings has decreased sharply in recent years.

According to police statistics, 314 shootings occurred through September 2022. During the same period this year, the number has dropped to 113. The number of fatal shootings has decreased from 49 to 26 during the corresponding period – excluding the ten people killed in the attack at Risbergska School in Örebro, central Sweden.

Police assess that more violent crimes are being stopped in time thanks to expanded possibilities for secret surveillance and other intelligence methods. More murder investigations are also being solved, according to the authority.

Bombings and arson increase

At the same time, the trend points in the opposite direction regarding bombings and arson attacks. These have increased but rarely lead to fatalities. Recently, many of the bombings have been carried out with powerful pyrotechnics instead of military explosives.

Police also see successes on the international front. So far this year, 183 gang-connected individuals have been arrested abroad – a record figure – of which 35 are classified as so-called priority actors. Despite this, the total circle of gang criminals is not assessed to be decreasing.

According to police’s latest situation report from autumn 2024, around 14,000 people are actively involved in the gang environment and an additional 48,000 have connections to it. When the next report is presented in November, the numbers are expected to rise.

Directing crime from abroad

Police also estimate that approximately 700 gang criminals now operate from abroad – an increase of 100 people since previous calculations.

The most concerning trend, however, involves children and young people. In 2022, 14 children under 15 were suspected of involvement in murder plots. This year, the figure has risen to 127, according to new data from the Swedish Prosecution Authority.

The suspicions mainly concern attempted murder, preparation, conspiracy and aiding and abetting murder, but also nine completed murders and a couple of cases of incitement.

Sprängdåd Uppsala september 2023
Bombings are increasing alarmingly in Sweden (archive image Uppsala, Sep. 2023). Photo: Facsimile/Aftonbladet Play/YT

Children recruiting children

According to the Swedish Ministry of Justice, children are often recruited via social media, where gang criminals post orders for violent acts. A growing trend is also that children themselves recruit other children. Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer (Moderate Party) believes that crime has not worsened, but that it has changed character.

Criminologist Manne Gerell assesses that the development is largely moving in the right direction: – The best indicator for me is how many people die or are seriously injured, and there we have seen a massive decrease in shootings.

Gerell believes the decrease is mainly due to increased resources for police rather than individual reforms in the Tidö Agreement: – Everything else is small puzzle pieces that individually could hardly have played any role, he says.

Among the measures that have had the least effect, he mentions the visitation zones, which have been used less than expected and have not produced any clear results.

Police simultaneously warn that the level of violence within gangs remains high and that new spirals of violence may arise: – One concern is that hundreds of children and young people who were taken for involvement in these crimes a few years ago will, to a large extent, be back on the streets soon if they aren’t already, says Manne Gerell.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

The Tidö Agreement and the fight against gang violence – what's coming in 2025/26

  • Legislative proposal on expanded criminal liability for attempted, preparatory, and conspiracy to commit crimes
  • Legislative proposal on new indeterminate prison sentence, security sentence
  • Legislative proposal allowing police to use AI for real-time facial recognition with cameras
  • Legislative proposal to lower the age of criminal responsibility to 13 years for serious crimes
  • Legislative proposal to completely abolish sentence reductions for young people between 18 and 21 years
  • Legislative proposal on reduced sentence reductions for young people aged 15–17 years
  • Stricter rules for conditional release enter into force on January 1
  • Investigation proposal on allowing police to use entrapment
  • Legislative proposal on being able to deport foreign nationals with gang connections
  • Investigation proposal on reversed burden of proof in asset forfeiture cases
  • Investigation on new possibilities for police to intervene in the cyber environment


Examples of legislative proposals from the criminal law review

  • multiple offenses to be assessed more severely
  • sentencing scales for approximately fifty crimes to be tightened
  • less consideration given to mitigating circumstances
  • up to double sentences for crimes linked to gang criminality

Source: Ministry of Justice (Sweden)

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/saab-secures-e50-million-nato-contract-for-spanish-radar-system/

Sweden

Saab secures €50 million NATO contract for Spanish radar system

Published today 14:11
– By Editorial Staff
Arthur is a radar system that locates artillery and provides warning of incoming fire.
2 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Swedish defense company Saab has secured a contract worth almost €50 million from NATO’s procurement organization NSPA to extend the lifespan of Arthur radar systems for the Spanish army.

This marks the first time Saab’s radar systems have been procured through NATO’s purchasing organization.

The contract involves enabling the Spanish army’s artillery locating force to maintain its operational capabilities through modern technology.

The life extension of the systems will provide higher operational mobility and more accurate fire control. The upgrade means more targets can be located at longer distances. The system will also have a smaller signature against electronic warfare sensors, which increases protection for personnel and equipment.

Carl-Johan Bergholm, head of Saab’s Surveillance business area, comments on the order:

— We are pleased to continue strengthening Spain’s artillery locating capability, which is crucial for warning against hostile artillery as well as directing our own artillery fire. The order is also the first for our radar systems to go through NATO’s procurement organization, which is an important step for us, he says.

Largest in the Nordic region

Saab is by far the largest defense company in the Nordic region with approximately 25,000 employees and manufacturing operations in the United States, Germany, and Brazil, among other countries. In 2023, the company ranked as the world’s 35th largest arms manufacturer.

In addition to its well-known fighter jets, Saab also produces and maintains military command and control systems.

The largest shareholder is the Wallenberg sphere, which through the investment company Investor controls around 30 percent of the capital and 40 percent of the votes. Marcus Wallenberg has been chairman of the board since 2006.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/growing-number-of-swedes-living-in-poverty/

Sweden

Growing number of Swedes living in poverty

Welfare collapse

Published today 12:46
– By Editorial Staff
For the most vulnerable, every day becomes a struggle when the safety net fails.
1 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

An increasing number of Swedes are living in material and social poverty. According to this year’s poverty report from Sweden’s City Missions, poverty in Sweden has nearly doubled since 2021.

Last year, 698,000 Swedes lived in some form of poverty, according to the report. The increase in poverty in Sweden stands out across Europe, particularly in terms of speed – having nearly doubled in four years. Jonas Rydberg, secretary general of Sweden’s City Missions (a charitable organization), believes the rising poverty is largely due to the economic downturn and sharp increases in food prices.

— But what we can show in our report is that it’s also because it’s becoming increasingly difficult to have one’s rights met. For example, financial benefits. They are inaccessible and difficult to obtain, he says in Nyhetsmorgon.

Rydberg notes that many of those seeking help from the city mission don’t receive the general social insurance benefits they’re entitled to, making it significantly harder to manage daily life. Social welfare support, for example, has become more complicated to obtain and the payments are very low.

— It has become increasingly difficult and the ultimate safety net is being eroded in Sweden.

The Swedish government recently presented a welfare reform that involves stricter requirements for social benefits, with the goal of getting more people into work. According to Rydberg, the proposal risks instead pushing more people into poverty.

— It’s difficult and the labor market in Sweden is not accessible, he states.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Definition of poverty among adults in Sweden

An adult is considered poor if they lack the financial means to meet at least five of the following basic needs:

  • Eat protein-rich meals (meat, fish, chicken or vegetarian) every other day
  • Maintain a satisfactory indoor temperature in their home
  • Invite friends and family over or meet them for meals or coffee at least monthly
  • Have access to the internet
  • Manage to regulate loans and pay bills on time
  • Have a small amount available for personal expenses weekly
  • Own at least two pairs of functional shoes suitable for different weather conditions
  • Replace broken or worn-out furniture when needed
  • Participate in leisure activities with some regularity
  • Buy new clothes when the old ones are too worn
  • Handle an unexpected expense of €1,200 (the amount is adjusted periodically)
  • Take a week-long vacation away from home annually
  • Own a personal vehicle

Source: Sveriges stadsmissioner (Swedish City Missions)

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/denmark/danish-peoples-party-demands-mass-deportations-we-must-get-denmark-back/

Denmark

Danish People’s Party demands mass deportations: “We must get Denmark back”

Migration crisis in Europe

Published today 11:26
– By Editorial Staff
Morten Messerschmidt wants to see a Denmark "where Danes are once again masters in their own house".
3 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

With proposals for mass deportations, citizenship reviews, and extensive bans on Islamic expressions, the Danish People’s Party (Dansk Folkeparti) is campaigning on an immigration policy that is very radical by Nordic standards.

— We must get Denmark back. A Denmark where there are no headscarves in schools. Where Danish is spoken in nursing homes. Where Danes are once again masters in their own house, argues party leader Morten Messerschmidt.

The DF notes that the demographic composition of Denmark has changed drastically since the 1980s, when the proportion of residents with non-Western backgrounds was 1 percent. Today, 10.1 percent of the population, equivalent to over 500,000 people, have non-Western origins.

The party particularly points to immigration from the Middle East and North Africa – including from Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Somalia – as the cause of the country’s extensive social problems.

In the manifesto, a series of negative consequences are listed: ghetto formation, ethnic conflicts, radicalization, clan cultures, honor violence, social control, persecution of Jews and sexual minorities, infiltration of public authorities, Islamic censorship, and gender segregation. The DF claims this constitutes “the largest demographic change in Danish history”.

“Immigration from the Middle East and North Africa in particular brings a lot of crime and is fundamentally changing our country. If you do not want to adopt Danish culture and Danish values, the Danish People’s Party will work to ensure that you stay somewhere else”, it states.

Citizenship review

The program contains proposals that go significantly further than current Danish legislation. The DF wants to review all citizenships granted over the past two decades. For those who received citizenship in the past eight years, new language and citizenship tests should be introduced. Those who fail the tests should lose their Danish citizenship.

Criminals should also lose their citizenship, and the party wants Denmark to try to leave or renegotiate international agreements that limit the ability to make people stateless.

To enforce deportations, the DF wants to use economic pressure against countries that oppose receiving their citizens. Aid should be withdrawn and economic sanctions imposed. The party proposes that a special ministry for returns should be established.

Those who accept financial support to leave Denmark should be banned from ever returning. Border controls should be made permanent and strengthened.

Restrictions on Islam

The DF’s program also includes a series of measures specifically targeting Islam and Muslims. The party wants to ban or heavily tax halal products, stop foreign financing of mosques, and withdraw state recognition of Islamic religious communities.

Domestically, the party wants to ban the call to prayer, prohibit headscarves in public buildings, and shut down Muslim independent schools. Permanent residence permits should only be granted to persons of Danish origin. Foreign citizens whom police list as gang members should be deported.

“Remigration now”

Messerschmidt has intensified his criticism of Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s immigration policy in recent weeks, which he calls “the great immigration fiasco”.

“We must have Denmark back. A Denmark where there are no scarves in schools. Where Danish is spoken in nursing homes. Where the Danes are masters of their own house again. The most important issue of all is the issue of repatriations. That is why we need a remigration policy”, Messerschmidt wrote on social media last week.

In another post, he claimed that immigration has increased sharply during Frederiksen’s time as prime minister:

“REMIGRATION AND HOME SHIPMENTS NOW! Since Mette Frederiksen became Prime Minister, Islamic mass immigration has increased by a staggering 124 percent. In fact, she has allowed as many as 40,000 Islamic foreigners into our country since she came to power in 2019”.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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