* . * . . .
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookie Privacy Policy
  • DMCA
  • California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
Love Europe
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • Travel
No Result
View All Result
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • Travel
No Result
View All Result
Love Europe
No Result
View All Result
Home Sweden

Swedish children to start school a year earlier in move away from play | Sweden

October 6, 2024
in Sweden
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT

Children in Sweden are to start school at six years old from 2028, a year earlier than at present, in an overhaul of the country’s education system that signals a switch from play-based teaching for younger children.

The government has announced plans to replace a compulsory preschool year for six-year-olds known as förskoleklass with an additional year in grundskola (primary school).

The centre-right coalition government, led by the Moderates and backed by the far-right Sweden Democrats, announced the plan before the presentation of the 2025 budget, due on Thursday. The plan dates back to the previous government and is also backed by the left-leaning Social Democrats.

The education minister, Johan Pehrson, said “school must go back to the basics” and added that there would be a stronger focus on early learning to read and write, as well as mathematics. “This should lead to students having a better opportunity to develop basic skills such as reading, writing and counting and to reach the goals in school,” he said.

Critics say the plan goes against research that shows children’s development is best supported by play-based learning environments, encouraging them to explore, create and develop through play, curiosity and guided discovery. Union leaders fear the move could put many specialised preschool teachers out of work.

Christian Eidevald, a visiting professor of early childhood education at Södertörn University, said: “By pushing six-year-olds into a more formalised school setting, we risk losing the essential play-based methods that have been shown to foster children’s development. This is not just a pedagogical preference: studies confirm that play is foundational for early learning and the development of critical skills such as language and problem-solving.”

Eidevald is among a group of academics who study children and pedagogy, including Ingrid Pramling Samuelsson, a senior professor of pedagogy at the University of Gothenburg, who have written an article calling into question the government’s reasoning.

skip past newsletter promotion

Sign up to Headlines Europe

A digest of the morning’s main headlines from the Europe edition emailed direct to you every week day

Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

after newsletter promotion

“Incorporating the six-year-olds into primary school without taking into account their specific developmental needs and without taking advantage of the unique competence of preschool teachers is a step in the wrong direction and will not lead to increased equality,” they wrote. “Instead of implementing structural changes, resources should be invested in raising the quality in education with competent teachers.”

Åsa Westlund, the Social Democrats’ education spokesperson, said her party’s support for the plan was dependent on maintaining a mix of learning and play in what she said should act as a “bridge between preschool and school”.

Some experts were positive about the plan. Johannes Westberg, an education professor at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, said the move made sense and would bring Swedish schooling more into line with the rest of Europe. “It will probably imply a schoolification of the förskoleklass, so more traditional school pedagogy will be provided already for these six-year-olds, but not necessarily affect the entire comprehensive school as such,” he said.

Other education measures to be presented in the budget include investing in “emergency schools” for temporarily relocating children when there are issues at school, greater investment in textbooks to support screen-free environments, and funding for teacher and preschool-teacher training.

Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/sep/19/swedish-children-to-start-school-a-year-earlier-six

Author :

Publish date : 2024-09-19 07:00:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Swiss women win landmark climate case in European human rights court

Next Post

Fifteen children from Gaza to receive urgent medical care in Spain

Related Posts

Sweden

NATO Expands Fleet with Two New Airbus A330 MRTT Aircraft and Welcomes Sweden and Denmark Onboard

Sweden

US and Sweden Join Forces for Advanced Combat Search and Rescue Training

Sweden

Euros Preview: Sweden Set to Shine in Upcoming Clash

ADVERTISEMENT

Highlights

Zaha Hadid Architects Triumphs with Stunning New Arrivals Terminal Design for Vilnius Airport

Malta Teen Arrested on Charges of Rape and Child Endangerment Following Saratoga County Investigation

Russia Plans to Deploy 10,000 Troops in Moldovan Breakaway Region, Warns PM

Barcelona’s Ansu Fati Arrives in Monaco for Medical Ahead of Exciting Loan Move

European Council President Applauds Montenegro’s Progress Toward EU Membership

Categories

Archives

October 2024
MTWTFSS
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031 
« Sep   Nov »
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookie Privacy Policy
  • DMCA
  • California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Politics
  • News
  • Business
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Opinion

© 2024 Love-Europe

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
Go to mobile version