A traditional school year in Swedish primary and lower secondary schools begins in August and ends in June, with 190 school days. Now, the Center Party’s executive committee has proposed extending the school year by two weeks – and shortening the summer vacation at the same time.
According to Center Party leader Muharrem Demirok, such a change would have several advantages.
– It would provide more educational activities for children and ensure that students who are struggling have a chance to improve their results.
When asked by state-owned media outlet SR how students would react to shorter summer vacations, Demirok admitted that many might not be completely satisfied with the proposal.
– Yes, but of course you feel like the Grinch on Christmas Eve when you make such a proposal. I understand that some people will react to our proposal to shorten parts of the summer vacation. But we need to focus on the level of knowledge and achieve an equal school throughout Sweden. This requires that we also dare to take action.
It is estimated that the implementation of the proposal would cost around five billion kronor, based on an evaluation carried out by the Parliamentary Investigation Service at the request of the Centre Party. However, this should be seen in relation to the money already spent on additional leisure activities, holiday schools and summer vacation activities, the C-leader points out.
The Centre Party is currently conducting a review of its education policy ahead of its party conference at the end of September, and this proposal is just one of many being considered. However, Demirok stressed that it is important to invest more in schools in general and that schools also need more “adults and teachers”.
Notably, the Centre Party is not the first party to propose a change to the school summer vacation. Several other parties have previously proposed the introduction of a three-semester system. So far, however, no major changes have been made in this area.
The Teachers’ Union is critical of the proposal, and its leader, Åsa Fahlén, argues that Swedish schools suffer first and foremost from a lack of resources that needs to be addressed.
“Two weeks more teaching time is a loose proposal that will not make a difference when we teachers first and foremost need resources, support and a decent working environment during the regular school year. Besides, we are in line with other Nordic countries when it comes to teaching time” she writes in an email to TT.
