The Swedish Government has now decided on a legislative proposal to introduce a ten-year primary school from fall 2028.
Although the preschool class is already compulsory, its transformation into the first year of primary school will bring significant changes for both children and teachers.
Specifically, the proposal will replace the pre-primary class with a new first year of primary school, focusing on early literacy and basic math skills.
In a government press release, Minister for Education Lotta Edholm emphasizes that the change aims to reintroduce a strong knowledge-based education system in Sweden. She emphasizes that six-year-olds will receive a more structured and teacher-led education from the start of school.
– We are now taking a further step to reintroduce a strong school of knowledge in Sweden by making compulsory school ten years old. This will mean that all six-year-olds will receive a more structured and teacher-led education from the start of school, which will focus more on basic skills such as reading, writing and arithmetic, says Lotta Edholm.
“Detta kommer innebära att alla sexåringar redan från skolstart får en mer strukturerad och lärarledd undervisning, som kommer fokusera mer på grundläggande färdigheter som att läsa, skriva och räkna.” – Lotta Edholm #utbpol https://t.co/QHWP8PhdKL
— Utbildningsdepartementet (@Utbdep) January 31, 2025
Nine becomes ten
The new grade 1 will be integrated into primary school, making grade 10 the final grade. Teaching will be based on primary school subjects and curricula, but will also be age-appropriate.
It is hoped that this will lead to fewer transitions between school types and more continuous development in pupils’ learning.
The reform also covers adapted primary schools, special schools and Sami schools.
The proposal is based on an agreement between the government and the Sweden Democrats and is said to aim to create a more equal education for all pupils.
Minister of Culture: “Stronger foundation for being a citizen in a democracy”
Patrick Reslow, education policy spokesperson for the Sweden Democrats, points out that preschool classes have varied across the country and lacked a clear structure.
– It is good that we are now strengthening the equivalence of early years education throughout the country. Preschool classes have functioned well to varying degrees, but have lacked a clear structure. Replacing the preschool class with a new first grade in primary school creates better conditions for strengthening the basic skills of reading, writing and arithmetic. This will benefit knowledge acquisition in later years, says Patrick Reslow.
Mathias Bengtsson, education policy spokesperson for the Christian Democrats, sees the reform as an important step in reversing the trend of declining knowledge results in Swedish schools.
Minister for Culture Parisa Liljestrand emphasizes the importance of early and structured education to develop literacy. She believes that it is largely a question of improving democracy.
– By starting primary school earlier, we create a stronger foundation for students’ literacy learning. Reading and owning the language is a foundation for being an active and informed citizen in a democracy.
Timetable and budget
The government plans to introduce a ten-year primary school from autumn 2028, allowing time for necessary preparations and adjustments within the school system.
The budget for 2025 includes several investments in schools. Among other things, the government is increasing the knowledge grant by SEK 700 million (€60 million), intended to hire more teachers and special needs teachers.
In addition, SEK 850 million (€75 million) is allocated to improve order and study peace. Of this, SEK 100 million (€8.5 million) is earmarked for emergency schools, which will deal with acute problems of order more quickly.