SFS chairman Jacob Färnert writes a debate article in Aftonbladet about recovery for students and the importance of taking responsibility for the students' work environment in higher education.
Students also do not have leave, vacation or other longer leave. In younger forms of school, there are summer holidays, Christmas holidays, etc. In the labor market, employees have a statutory right to 24-hour rest, weekly rest and holidays. Words that have hardly any meaning to students.
The "Christmas holiday" usually goes to studying for exams, because the autumn term ends in January. "Summer vacation" usually means summer jobs.
We want to change this. Students need recovery just like other groups in society. We therefore believe that several actors should act:
Read the full article at Aftonbladet.se.
- Institutions should have guidelines for student recovery. Although courses may have different conditions and needs at one and the same university, it is important that there are general guidelines so that all students and teachers know what applies. Studying all weekend should not be the norm.
- The Swedish Work Environment Authority should guide training providers in matters of recovery and working hours. Since students are neither covered by the Working Time Act nor the regulations on organizational and social work environment, the overall requirements are very diffuse. Clarify how the universities can take responsibility and plan for recovery in practice.
- The government should take the initiative to modernize the means of study and enable some time off. It should be possible to receive study funds for two weeks over Christmas and New Year, even if studies are not being conducted "actively". A special loan should also be introduced to cover the summer months for those students who cannot work.