English information
•• Updates ••
Proposal for new School Law 2009The 16th of June, 2009, the Swedish Government presented its proposal for a new Swedish School Law, that has been in the works for many years. The position on home education in the suggested law is a return to darkness. It is unbelievable. Home education will NOT be permitted for those referring to philosophical or religious reasons according to the European convention on Human Rights! The added words used to make home education virtually impossible, are FOUR: "Education otherwise is allowed if... there exist extraordinary circumstances." The reason given is: "…that the education in school should be comprehensive and objective and thereby designed so that all pupils can participate, regardless of what religious or philosophical reasons the pupil or his or her care-takers may have." (our emphasis) Thus, the proposed law argues: "…there is no need for the law to offer the possibility of home education because of religious or philosophical reasons in the family. All together, this means that this proposed change cannot be said to contradict Sweden's international obligations [i. e. Human Rights Conventions]." The quotes above are our translations from the proposed law on page 584. The proposed law can be downloaded in Swedish from the Swedish Government homepage - here. Rohus has submitted a very stern review to the government's proposal. The review closed on October 1st 2009. The re-working of the proposal will be finished by the spring of 2010. The final proposal will then be voted on by Parliament during the spring/summer of 2010 and will take effect in July of 2011. Due to the many changes in the proposal, it will take about a year for all schools to adapt to it. And for home educators... many may emigrate, if the law ends up the way the proposal reads today. The Swedish Government is trying to make home education, for religious or philosophical reasons, illegal - thus showing off its worst totalitarian roots. We need international support to show that Sweden, as a member of the international democratic community, cannot take such a position. As Sweden is often seen as the great social utopia of the world, it is important for Swedish home educators to win this battle. Any and all help is appreciated immeasurably. Sensible international comments about the new Swedish school law can be sent to: skollagen@education.ministry.se Please, also sign our petition HERE if you want to support us in our work to ensure that home education stays a legal alternative to school.
Rohus is politically and religiously un-affiliated.
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