2025-05-072024/25:UbU9 · p.15UbUEducation
The principle of public transparency in independent schools
The principle of public access to information in independent schools
What's at stake: If the principle is extended to independent schools, the public, media and parents gain a better ability to scrutinise how tax funds are used and to compare school operators when choosing a school. If the principle is not extended, information such as pupil and teacher data and financial details at independent schools risks remaining inaccessible in a way it is not for municipal schools, which the reservation argues makes it harder to scrutinise both good and poor conditions in a sector that manages substantial public funds.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether independent schools should be covered by the principle of public access to information in the same way as municipal schools, giving the public and media a right of insight into their operations and use of public funds, or whether the current arrangement - under which the principle applies to public authorities but not private operators - should remain while other ongoing inquiry work on conditions for the independent-school sector continues.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee rejects the motions calling for independent schools to be fully covered by the principle of public access to information. The committee points to the existing rules on information duties for independent operators and to the fact that questions about greater transparency in the conditions and ownership of the independent-school sector are being addressed in ongoing inquiry work, which the committee does not wish to pre-empt.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 33 (S, V, C, MP)
The reservation (S, V, C, MP) calls on the government to take steps so that the principle of public access to information also covers independent schools. The reasoning is that the principle is central to Swedish democracy and should apply equally regardless of operator, that data on pupils and teachers should not be treated as trade secrets, and that insight into both good and poor conditions is essential for scrutinising the use of tax funds and for parents to trust the information when choosing a school.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 33 by S, V, C, MP.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
The decision would have gone the other way
Explicit commitments that contradicted the vote: LLiberalerna
Ja 155–152Nej 141–166
Counterfactual: the parties above are moved to the position their own documents explicitly point at, carrying their whole contingent present. Every other party keeps its real figures, including dissenters and absentees.
How the AI parties would have voted
For each party: what its own plan – election manifesto and party programme – argues for in this case, next to how the party actually voted. The AI can only answer Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| AI | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | No 0/21/0/3 | match | confidence: high | not addressed |
| S | No | No 0/93/0/13 | match | confidence: high | explicit |
| MP | No | No 0/16/0/2 | match | confidence: high | explicit |
| C | No | No 0/21/0/3 | match | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 14/0/0/2 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| KD | Yes | Yes 17/0/0/2 | match | confidence: low | not addressed |
| M | Yes | Yes 60/0/0/8 | match | confidence: low | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 63/0/0/9 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
Committee proposal
Parliament rejects the motions 2024/25:1048 by Gustaf Lantz (S), 2024/25:1931 by Nooshi Dadgostar et al. (V) motion 8, 2024/25:3024 by Åsa Westlund et al. (S) motion 8, 2024/25:3161 by Muharrem Demirok et al. (C) motion 13 and 2024/25:3217 by Amanda Lind et al. (MP) motion 12.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2024/25:1048 av Gustaf Lantz (S), 2024/25:1931 av Nooshi Dadgostar m.fl. (V) yrkande 8, 2024/25:3024 av Åsa Westlund m.fl. (S) yrkande 8, 2024/25:3161 av Muharrem Demirok m.fl. (C) yrkande 13 och 2024/25:3217 av Amanda Lind m.fl. (MP) yrkande 12.
Riksdag decision: Parliament rejected approximately 160 proposals in motions on comprehensive school matters from the general motion period 2024. The proposals dealt with, among other things, measures to improve learning results, resource allocation within the education system, school choice, independent schools, the School Inspectorate's supervision, school digitalization and special forms of education, for example distance education and home education. Parliament refers, among other things, to applicable regulations and ongoing investigations.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to increase state responsibility for an equivalent upper secondary school. (S, V, C, MP) — Reservation 33
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan counts the principle of public access among the most important building blocks of political democracy and wants greater societal oversight where common funds are in circulation.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan counts the principle of public access among the most important building blocks of political democracy and wants greater societal oversight where common funds are in circulation. Letting the principle of public access also cover independent schools follows directly from this, since the school grant is tax money. The plan also criticizes the unrestricted right to draw on tax funds in schools, which presupposes oversight to be scrutinized.
Original (Swedish)
Planen räknar offentlighetsprincipen till den politiska demokratins viktigaste byggstenar och vill ha större samhällelig insyn där gemensamma medel är i omlopp. Att låta offentlighetsprincipen omfatta även fristående skolor följer direkt av det, eftersom skolpengen är skattemedel. Planen kritiserar dessutom den fria dragningsrätten på skattemedel i skolan, vilket förutsätter insyn för att kunna granskas.
- the principle of public access as a democratic foundationdecisive»meddelarfriheten och offentlighetsprincipen« (party programme ↗)“freedom of information and the principle of public access”
- oversight of tax funds»Som enda land i världen råder det fri dragningsrätt på de skattemedel som ska gå till våra barns utbildning.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“As the only country in the world there is unrestricted right to draw on the tax funds that should go to our children's education.”
- greater societal oversight»Vi vill gå mot en större samhällelig insyn« (party programme ↗)“We want to move toward greater societal oversight”
- consequences of market schools»Marknadsskolan är ett historiskt misslyckande« (party programme ↗)“Market schools are a historical failure”
The election manifesto establishes that society shall have full transparency in all schools through the principle of public access and wants this to also apply to private health and care.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto establishes that society shall have full transparency in all schools through the principle of public access and wants this to also apply to private health and care. The party programme requires equivalent transparency from private actors in tax-funded welfare. The counter-proposal's requirement that the principle of public access shall cover independent schools is therefore directly in line with the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet slår fast att samhället ska ha full insyn i alla skolor genom offentlighetsprincipen och vill att den även ska gälla privat vård och omsorg. Partiprogrammet kräver motsvarande öppenhet av privata aktörer i den skattefinansierade välfärden. Motförslagets krav att offentlighetsprincipen ska omfatta fristående skolor är därmed direkt planens linje.
- principle of public access in all schoolsdecisive»Samhället ska ha full insyn i alla skolor genom offentlighetsprincipen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Society shall have full transparency in all schools through the principle of public access.”
- oversight of private providers»krav på öppenhet och insyn ska ställas på de privata aktörer som verkar inom den« (party programme ↗)“requirements for transparency and oversight shall be placed on private actors working within”
- transparency in private welfare»Offentlighetsprincipen ska gälla även privat vård och omsorg.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The principle of public access shall apply also to private care and welfare.”
- independent school information»Vi vill ge alla elever samma möjlighet att välja skola, genom ett gemensamt skolval, slopad kötid och oberoende skolinformation.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to give all students the same opportunity to choose school, through joint school choice, abolished waiting times and independent school information.”
The plan states that freedom of disclosure and the principle of public access shall apply to all publicly funded welfare services, which includes independent schools.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that freedom of disclosure and the principle of public access shall apply to all publicly funded welfare services, which includes independent schools. It also requires that the principle of public access is protected and strengthened and that all schools, regardless of provider, are subject to effective oversight. The counter-proposal's demands are therefore directly addressed by the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att meddelarfrihet och offentlighetsprincipen ska gälla alla offentligt finansierade välfärdstjänster, vilket innefattar fristående skolor. Den kräver också att offentlighetsprincipen värnas och stärks och att alla skolor, oavsett huvudman, är föremål för fungerande kontroll. Motförslagets krav träffas därmed direkt av planen.
- public access in all tax-funded welfaredecisive»Meddelarfrihet och offentlighetsprincipen ska gälla« (party programme ↗)“Freedom of disclosure and the principle of public access shall apply”
- protected principle of public access»Offentlighetsprincipen och meddelarfriheten måste« (party programme ↗)“The principle of public access and freedom of disclosure must”
- equal oversight regardless of provider»passar eleven. Alla skolor, oavsett huvudman, ska« (party programme ↗)“suits the student. All schools, regardless of provider, shall”
- transparency in school choice»bryta skolsegregationen och göra skolvalet fritt och rättvist för alla.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“break school segregation and make school choice free and fair for all.”
The manifesto wants schools to share more information and to tighten supervision of schools and their owners, which is the same transparency interest that an extended public records principle serves.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The manifesto wants schools to share more information and to tighten supervision of schools and their owners, which is the same transparency interest that an extended public records principle serves. The party also promises that Sweden will become even more transparent, and the party programme makes openness a basic prerequisite for democracy and control of public funds. More active school choice requires that parents and guardians can trust the information.
Original (Swedish)
Manifestet vill se till att skolorna delar mer information och att tillsynen av skolor och deras ägare skärps, vilket är samma insynsintresse som en utsträckt offentlighetsprincip tjänar. Partiet lovar dessutom att Sverige ska bli ännu mer transparent, och partiprogrammet gör öppenhet till en grundförutsättning för demokrati och kontroll av offentliga medel. Ett mer aktivt skolval förutsätter att vårdnadshavare kan lita på informationen.
- schools must share more informationdecisive»Vi vill också skärpa tillståndsprövningen för utländska ägare, se till att skolorna delar mer information och skapa ett mer aktivt skolval för alla.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We also want to tighten licensing approval for foreign owners, ensure that schools share more information and create a more active school choice for all.”
- increased transparency»Sverige ska bli ännu mer transparent.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden must become even more transparent.”
- stronger oversight of principals»Vi vill bland annat se höga kvalitetskrav för fortsatt verksamhet och vinstutdelning, och vi vill skärpa tillsynen av skolor och deras ägare.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to see high quality requirements for continued operations and profit distribution, and we want to strengthen supervision of schools and their owners.”
- openness as democracy principle»Öppenhet och transparens är grundförutsättningar för frihet, demokrati och för att förhindra korruption och övergrepp.« (party programme ↗)“Openness and transparency are basic prerequisites for freedom, democracy and for preventing corruption and abuse.”
The party programme explicitly states that publicly funded activities shall be subject to the same rules on confidentiality and whistleblower protection regardless of whether they are run in public or private operation, and that this is especially important in schools.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme explicitly states that publicly funded activities shall be subject to the same rules on confidentiality and whistleblower protection regardless of whether they are run in public or private operation, and that this is especially important in schools. This is precisely what the counter-proposal requires when it wants the principle of openness to apply equally regardless of main administrator. The plan also emphasizes the principle of openness's fundamental importance for scrutiny and that school choice requires clear information about school quality.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår uttryckligen fast att offentligt finansierad verksamhet ska omfattas av samma regler om sekretess och meddelarskydd oavsett om den drivs i allmän eller privat regi, och att detta är extra viktigt i skolan. Det är precis vad motförslaget kräver när det vill att offentlighetsprincipen ska gälla lika oavsett huvudman. Planen betonar också offentlighetsprincipens grundläggande betydelse för granskning och att skolvalet kräver tydlig information om skolornas kvalitet.
- same transparency rules regardless of administratordecisive»Offentligt finansierad verksamhet ska omfattas av samma regler om sekretess och meddelarskydd oavsett om den bedrivs i allmän eller privat regi, och även om den drivs i bolagsform.« (party programme ↗)“Publicly funded activities shall be subject to the same rules on confidentiality and whistleblower protection regardless of whether they are conducted in public or private operation, and even if they are run in corporate form.”
- importance of the principle of openness»Offentlighetsprincipen har en grundläggande betydelse för att förankra och fördjupa folkstyret, och är en förutsättning för granskning och debatt.« (party programme ↗)“The principle of openness has fundamental importance for anchoring and deepening democracy, and is a precondition for scrutiny and debate.”
- information for school choice»För att underlätta skolvalet behövs tydlig information om skolornas kvalitet.« (party programme ↗)“To facilitate school choice clear information is needed about school quality.”
- strengthened school choice»Vi vill i stället stärka skolvalet genom att göra det obligatoriskt och samordnat, så att fler i stället för färre får välja vilken skola de vill gå i.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want instead to strengthen school choice by making it mandatory and coordinated, so that more rather than fewer get to choose which school they want to attend.”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The plan gives schools that follow the curriculum and meet quality requirements a large degree of freedom to shape their own activities, and independent school operators must be encouraged and supported rather than subjected to the public administration's regulations.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan gives schools that follow the curriculum and meet quality requirements a large degree of freedom to shape their own activities, and independent school operators must be encouraged and supported rather than subjected to the public administration's regulations. Fully extending the public access principle to independent schools goes further than what the plan supports. At the same time, the plan values the public access principle and control of public funds, which makes the assessment uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Planen ger skolor som följer läroplanen och lever upp till kvalitetskraven ett stort mått av frihet att själva utforma verksamheten, och fristående huvudmän ska uppmuntras och stödjas snarare än åläggas den offentliga förvaltningens regelverk. Att fullt ut utsträcka offentlighetsprincipen till fristående skolor går längre än vad planen ger stöd för. Samtidigt värnar planen offentlighetsprincipen och kontroll av offentliga medel, vilket gör bedömningen osäker.
- freedom for schools with quality requirementsdecisive»till kvalitetskrav, ska de ges ett stort mått av frihet att« (party programme ↗)“to quality requirements, must be given a large degree of freedom to”
- independent schools must be encouraged»som bestämmer sig för att driva fristående skolor ska« (party programme ↗)“who decide to run independent schools must”
- the value of the public access principle»Offentlighetsprincipen, det vill säga tillgången till« (party programme ↗)“The public access principle, that is access to”
- control of public funds»Utvärdering, kostnadsuppföljning och kvalitetskontroll är därför viktiga politiska« (party programme ↗)“Evaluation, cost monitoring and quality control are therefore important political”
The plan's path to oversight of free schools goes via licensing review and the School Inspectorate's scrutiny, not via laying the public disclosure principle on private operators.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's path to oversight of free schools goes via licensing review and the School Inspectorate's scrutiny, not via laying the public disclosure principle on private operators. At the same time, property rights and business freedom have strong protection in the plan and the regulatory burden on companies should decrease significantly. The demand for full public disclosure principle for independent schools therefore has no support in the plan, even though the plan shares the aim that unserious actors should be scrutinized.
Original (Swedish)
Planens väg till insyn i friskolorna går via tillståndsprövning och Skolinspektionens granskning, inte via att offentlighetsprincipen läggs på enskilda huvudmän. Samtidigt har äganderätten och näringsfriheten ett starkt skydd i planen och regelbördan på företag ska minska kraftigt. Kravet på full offentlighetsprincip för fristående skolor har därför inte stöd i planen, även om planen delar syftet att oseriösa aktörer ska granskas.
- quality requirements via licensing reviewdecisive»Se till att skolor som drivs i företagsform lever upp till högt ställda kvalitetskriterier för att få göra vinstutdelning samt dra in tillståndet för skolor som allvarligt brister« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Ensure that schools run as companies meet high quality criteria to make profit distributions and revoke the licence for schools that seriously fail”
- scrutiny via the School Inspectorate»Ge Skolinspektionen i särskilt uppdrag att granska och stänga skolor som kan misstänkas främja radikalisering och segregation« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Give the School Inspectorate a special assignment to scrutinize and close schools that may be suspected of promoting radicalization and segregation”
- protection for business freedom»Äganderätten och näringsfriheten ska ha ett starkt skydd i« (party programme ↗)“Property rights and business freedom shall have strong protection in”
- reduced regulatory burden»Ta bort en tredjedel av företagens administrationskostnader och en tredjedel av regelkrånglet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Remove a third of companies' administrative costs and a third of regulatory red tape”
The plan wants to increase requirements on independent activities and expand the supervisory authority's powers and inspections, and demand clear results for every public investment.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to increase requirements on independent activities and expand the supervisory authority's powers and inspections, and demand clear results for every public investment. Allowing the principle of public access to also cover independent schools is a means for precisely that insight into how tax money is used. The plan also generally drives increased transparency and accountability in publicly funded activities.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill öka kraven på fristående verksamheter och utöka tillsynsmyndighetens befogenheter och kontroller, samt begära tydliga resultat för varje offentlig satsning. Att låta offentlighetsprincipen omfatta även fristående skolor är ett medel för just den insynen i hur skattemedel används. Planen driver dessutom generellt ökad transparens och ansvarsutkrävande i offentligt finansierad verksamhet.
- increased control of independent actorsdecisive»Öka kraven för fristående förskolor samt utöka Skolinspektionens befogenheter och kontroller« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Increase requirements for independent preschools and expand the School Inspection Authority's powers and inspections”
- increased transparency»åtgärder ska genomföras för att öka transparensen och möjligheten att utkräva politiskt ansvarsutkrävande« (2022 manifesto ↗)“measures should be implemented to increase transparency and the possibility of demanding political accountability”
- results requirement on public funds»Begära tydliga resultat för varje offentlig satsning« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Demand clear results for every public investment”
- accountability for shortcomings»Sverigedemokraterna vill stärka möjligheter för ansvarsutkrävande när hanteringen av de offentliga resurserna brister.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden Democrats want to strengthen opportunities for accountability when the handling of public resources falls short.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2024/25:UbU9)
- Committee report full text (HC01UbU9)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2024/25:1048 — Kommuners rätt att granska skolor de finansierar av Gustaf Lantz (S)
- Motion 2024/25:1074 — Införa porrfilter på skolornas datorer av Roland Utbult (KD)
- Motion 2024/25:1126 — Stärkta rättigheter för elever i behov av särskilt stöd av Joanna Lewerentz och Caroline Högström (båda M)
- Motion 2024/25:1242 — En helt avgiftsfri grundskola av Jonathan Svensson (S)
- Motion 2024/25:1254 — Åtgärder för att bryta skolsegregationen och främja en jämlik skola av Dzenan Cisija (S)
- Motion 2024/25:1280 — Skolinspektionens granskning av kristna friskolor av Mathias Bengtsson (KD)
- Motion 2024/25:1444 — Förutsättningar för en grundskola i världsklass av Patrick Reslow m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1446 — En gymnasieskola och vuxenutbildning i världsklass av Patrick Reslow m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1447 — En grundskola i världsklass av Patrick Reslow m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1448 — En förskola i världsklass av Patrick Reslow m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1454 — Regional utveckling - för ett levande Sverige av Tobias Andersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1497 — Upplärningsplikt av Marléne Lund Kopparklint (M)
- Motion 2024/25:1595 — Förstärkt skolplikt av Lawen Redar (S)
- Motion 2024/25:1631 — Svenska som huvudspråk i förskolan av Lawen Redar (S)
- Motion 2024/25:1633 — Förbud mot vinstdrivande förskolor av Lawen Redar (S)
- Motion 2024/25:1683 — Trygg välfärd utan privat vinstintresse av Johanna Haraldsson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2024/25:1728 — Sveriges kristna kulturarv av Julia Kronlid och Aron Emilsson (båda SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1785 — Frukost i skolan av Linnéa Wickman m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2024/25:1931 — En skola och förskola som ger framtidstro av Nooshi Dadgostar m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2024/25:1935 — Åtgärder för de nationella minoriteterna och minoritetsspråken av Nooshi Dadgostar m.fl. (V)
Source: The Swedish Parliament