Sweden - 2012
Evidence of school segregation and/or policies of separate/distinct schooling of minorities
- Code:
- RED83
- Key Area:
- Education
- Strand(s):
- Racism, Discrimination
| Short Answer |
Yes. |
| Qualitative Info |
In the report published by the Swedish Church (Svenska Kyrkan, 2012) called "Våga vara minoritet" the current situation of the national minorities was analysed. Although there are no clear evidence of school segregation and/or policies of distinct schooling for minorities, the report is critical to access to schooling for minority children.
The problems identified are that the right to pre-school in Sámi, Finnish and Meänkieli is not provided in many municipalities in the administrative areas. Although a number of municipalities have not even investigated the need of such pre-school, the parents' demands are dismissed.The stipulations in the Swedish Minority Act regarding the right to pre-school in Sámi, Finnish and Meänkieli are too weak in relation to Sweden’s commitments according to the European Language Charter. The provisions on mother tongue teaching require fundamental knowledge in the minority language in order to participate in classes. To make such requirements is not allowed according to the minority conventions.
Government funding for mother tongue teaching in national minority languages have not been used for national minority children.
The legal regulations in the educational field are still weak and children’s right to their minority language is not realized. Bilingual education hardly exists. Many students are denied mother tongue teaching. There is no teacher training in national minority languages and this threatens the survival of the national minority languages, according to the Swedish National Agency for Higher Education. There is also a lack of teaching materials in several minority languages.
Source: Våga vara minoritet – En rapport om minoritetsrättigheter i Sverige 2012 (Dare to be Minority – A Report on Minority Rights in Sweden 2012), http://sverigesradio.se/diverse/appdata/isidor/files/2327/11997.pdf (Accessed 2012-03-10). |
| Groups affected/interested | National minorities |
| Type (R/D) | |
| Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas | Education |
| External Url | http://sverigesradio.se/diverse/appdata/isidor/files/2327/11997.pdf |
| Situation(s) |
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| Library |
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