INCA Education around the world
Sweden : Organisation/control of education system
2.1.1 Control
2.1.2 Funding
2.1.3 Private sector education
2.1.4 SPECIAL PUBLICLY-FUNDED PROVISION WITHIN OR OUTSIDE MAINSTREAM EDUCATION
2.1 Organisation and control of system/structure
2.1.1 Control
See section 2.1.1 of the mainstream Sweden Archive.
2.1.2 Funding
See section 2.1.2 of the mainstream Sweden Archive.
2.1.3 Private sector education
See section 2.1.3 of the mainstream Sweden Archive.
2.1.4 SPECIAL PUBLICLY-FUNDED PROVISION WITHIN OR OUTSIDE MAINSTREAM EDUCATION
Types of provision
Almost all children attend mainstream education (grundskola or gymnasieskola). The exceptions are:
- Some children who are deaf/have impaired hearing or are visually, physically or multiple-handicapped, who may attend the specialskola.
- Some intellectually-handicapped children, who may be taught in the särskola.
- Some children of the Sami population who may be taught in special Sami schools (sameskolor).14, 11
Children with a physical disability normally attend mainstream schools and receive special assistance. Resource centres, which focus on special educational research and training, provide support for such children and their schools.7
Size of provision
Generally, no more than one per cent of the school population attend special schools.
2006/2006 school year
| Type of school |
Number of students |
Number of institutions |
Average number of students per school |
| Compulsory phase education for students with severe learning disabilities |
14,394 |
744 |
19 |
| Upper secondary education for students with severe learning disabilities |
7,785 |
266 |
29 |
| Education for students with impaired hearing |
603 |
8 |
75 |
| Education for adults with severe learning disabilities |
4,754 |
218 |
23 |
Source: http://www.eurydice.org
Only a very small proportion of parents in the Sami population send their children to special Sami schools; most attend the mainstream grundskola. In addition, some municipalities offer integrated Sami education (studying the Sami language, culture and history in addition to standard grundskola subjects) in mainstream grundskolor.18Control and funding
Municipalities have a special responsibility for children who require special support in their development. These children should be offered a place in education as soon as possible if their needs cannot be met in other ways. Consequently, children under the age of 1 who have special needs can be placed in a municipality funded pre-school environment. The child does not only have the right to a pre-school place, but also to services of a standard that will ensure that his or her needs are actually met. In addition, the municipality should seek to ensure that the child makes use of the place and should keep parents informed about the service being provided and its purposes.15
Special schools (specialskolor and särskolor)
Responsibility for special schools was transferred from the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs to the, then, Ministry of Education and Science (now the Ministry of Education and Research) on 1 December 1985 and, since 1 July 1986, the Education Act6 has included provisions relating to special schools.11
Schools for the deaf or hearing-impaired, for children with visual impairment or physical disabilities (specialskolor), schools for those with severe intellectual/learning difficulties (särskolor) and special Sami schools (sameskolor) are all funded and controlled by education authorities (as detailed in sections 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 of the mainstream Sweden Archive).14, 11
The State pays all the costs for students in special schools in Sweden, including board and lodging and travel, where applicable. The home municipalities pay a certain fee to the Government for students enrolled in schools for students with impaired hearing/vision and physical disabilities (specialskolor).11
Sami schools/sameskolor
Sameskolor come under the supervision of the Skolverket (the Swedish National Agency for Education). The Sami School Board decides where sameskolor are to be operated. Each is headed by a director of education who reports to the Sami School Board. A boarding facility may be set up in conjunction with the sameskola for the benefit of Sami youngsters not living close to a sameskola or to a school with integrated Sami education (see 3.2.5 also). All the expenses of the sameskola, such as teachers' salaries, student accommodation, school transport, premises etc. are borne by the State.18
Swedish Institute for Special Needs Education
The Swedish Institute for Special Needs Education is the national authority which coordinates government support in respect of special needs education for children, young people and adults with disabilities. Further information is available online.
