On December 3, the Minister of Education and the Minister of Schools had a press conference, where they presented the report on teacher and preschool teacher training. Among other things, the investigation had the task of proposing how the admission requirements for the teacher and preschool teacher training programs can be raised. Something that the Swedish National Union of Students, SFS, is critical of.
Comment from Rasmus Lindstedt, SFS chairman:
- We see disadvantages with increased admission requirements, which we have also presented to the investigation. According to the investigator himself, the proposal will lead to us having fewer teachers. Education is at risk of being closed down, at the same time that Sweden needs more teachers. They also increase political control unnecessarily and harm academic freedom. We hope that the government does not proceed with such a proposal.
- The university has been severely underfunded since the 90s, it is no wonder that it has had negative consequences. On the other hand, it is good that the investigation proposes that the total remuneration to the universities should not be reduced, but we would need a real investment to get results.
About SFS:
SFS is the national student voice, an association of student unions at Sweden's universities and colleges. SFS has around sixty member associations which together represent approximately 390 students and doctoral students.