2024-05-222023/24:UbU16 · p.1UbUEducation
Legislative proposal on nationally recruiting elite education in primary school
Permanent nationally recruiting advanced-track programs in compulsory school
What's at stake: A permanent system could give especially gifted and high-achieving students a better-suited education, but critics warn that proper impact analyses are missing and that the proposal could increase profit-seeking and reduce equity in schools.
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 nationally recruiting advanced-track programs in compulsory school should become a permanent part of the school system, or whether the bill should be rejected due to inadequate preparation and the risk of increased marketization.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee backs the government's proposal to make nationally recruiting advanced-track programs in compulsory school permanent, reasoning that some especially gifted or high-achieving students may need a specially adapted learning environment with exchange among like-minded peers, and that conditions should be equal for municipal and independent schools.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 1 (S, V)
The reservation argues that the proposal for permanent, nationally recruiting advanced-track programs is poorly prepared and risks further marketizing schools with increased profit-seeking, without adequate risk assessments or impact analyses, and wants the bill rejected and referred back for further preparation.
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 1 by S, V.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | No 0/19/0/5 | follows the plan | confidence: high | derived |
| S | No | No 0/93/0/13 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| MP | No | Yes 16/0/0/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | Yes | Yes 19/0/0/5 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| L | Yes | Yes 11/0/0/5 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| KD | Yes | Yes 17/0/0/2 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| M | Yes | Yes 59/0/0/9 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| SD | Yes | Yes 62/0/0/10 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag adopts a) the Government's proposal for an act amending the Education Act (2010:800), bill 2.1, in the parts concerning chapter 10, sections 6 and 23 h and chapter 23, section 12 b, b) the Government's proposal for an act amending the Education Act (2010:800), bill 2.2, in the parts concerning chapter 10, sections 6 and 23 h and chapter 23, section 12 b, c) chapter 10, section 23 i of the Government's proposal for an act amending the Education Act (2010:800), bill 2.1, d) chapter 10, section 23 i of the Government's proposal for an act amending the Education Act (2010:800), bill 2.2. Thereby the Riksdag passes government bill 2023/24:79 points 1 and 2, both in this part, and rejects the motion 2023/24:2826 by Åsa Westlund et al. (S) proposal 2.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen antar a) regeringens förslag till lag om ändring i skollagen (2010:800), lagförslag 2.1, i de delar det avser 10 kap. 6 och 23 h §§ och 23 kap. 12 b §, b) regeringens förslag till lag om ändring i skollagen (2010:800), lagförslag 2.2, i de delar det avser 10 kap. 6 och 23 h §§ och 23 kap. 12 b §, c) 10 kap. 23 i § regeringens förslag till lag om ändring i skollagen (2010:800), lagförslag 2.1, d) 10 kap. 23 i § regeringens förslag till lag om ändring i skollagen (2010:800), lagförslag 2.2. Därmed bifaller riksdagen proposition 2023/24:79 punkterna 1 och 2, båda i denna del, och avslår motion 2023/24:2826 av Åsa Westlund m.fl. (S) yrkande 2.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag said yes to the Government's proposal which provides better opportunities for students in primary school, special school and Sami school to study at a higher level and for students in upper secondary school to progress at a faster study pace. Certain primary school students with particular talent or who are high-performing may need an education in a specially adapted study environment where there are opportunities for daily exchange of experience and shared learning with other students with the same aptitude and interest. The Riksdag considers the Government's proposal to introduce elite education permanently to be valuable and will be significant for students who today do not receive sufficient challenges at school. The new regulations begin to apply on 2 July 2024. Certain regulations begin to apply on 1 July 2025.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to reject the bill on nationally-recruiting specialized education in primary school and have it prepared further. (S, V) — Reservation 1
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's key school commitment is that market-based schools shall be abolished and that no actors shall exist in schools to make profit.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's key school commitment is that market-based schools shall be abolished and that no actors shall exist in schools to make profit. The counter-proposal's reason for rejecting the bill is precisely the risk of further marketization and profit-seeking in primary school, which aligns with the plan's line. The plan also wants to build an equal school where the state takes over primary responsibility and the independent school system is wound down.
Original (Swedish)
Planens bärande skolåtagande är att marknadsskolan ska avskaffas och att inga aktörer ska finnas i skolan för att göra vinst. Motförslagets skäl att avvisa lagförslaget är just risken för ytterligare marknadisering och vinstjakt i grundskolan, vilket sammanfaller med planens linje. Planen vill dessutom bygga en jämlik skola där staten tar över huvudansvaret och friskolesystemet avvecklas.
- abolish market-based schoolsdecisive»Vänsterpartiet vill avskaffa marknadsskolan med start nästa mandatperiod.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Left Party wants to abolish market-based schools starting next term.”
- no profits in welfare»se några aktörer som är där för att göra vinster i välfärden.« (party programme ↗)“see any actors that are there to make profits in welfare.”
- state primary responsibility for schools»För att bygga upp en jämlik skola vill vi att staten tar« (party programme ↗)“To build an equal school we want the state to take”
- equal school for all»Svensk förskola och skola ska vara jämlik och jämställd, där alla barn och unga ges samma rätt till utbildning.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Swedish preschool and schools shall be equal and equitable, where all children and young people are given the same right to education.”
The election manifesto's core school commitment is to ban profit extraction and take back control over where and when independent schools are established.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto's core school commitment is to ban profit extraction and take back control over where and when independent schools are established. The counter-proposal's objection is precisely that a permanent elite education selecting nationally marketizes further parts of the school with increased profit-seeking, which aligns with the plan. The party programme also gives municipalities decisive influence over new school establishments.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestets bärande skolåtagande är att förbjuda vinstuttagen och ta tillbaka kontrollen över var och när fristående skolor etablerar sig. Motförslagets invändning är just att en permanentad riksrekryterande spetsutbildning marknadiserar ytterligare delar av skolan med ökad vinstjakt, vilket ligger i linje med planen. Partiprogrammet ger dessutom kommunerna avgörande inflytande över nya skoletableringar.
- ban profit extraction in schoolsdecisive»Vi vill förbjuda vinstuttagen i skolan och ta tillbaka kontrollen över var och när fristående skolor etablerar sig.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to ban profit extraction in schools and take back control over where and when independent schools are established.”
- stop school as a market»För det krävs mer resurser och att resurserna stannar i skolan genom ett stopp för marknadsskolan.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“To achieve this, more resources are needed and resources must stay in schools by stopping school as a market.”
- municipal influence over establishments»Kommunerna ska ha ett avgörande inflytande över nya skoletableringar.« (party programme ↗)“Municipalities shall have decisive influence over new school establishments.”
The election manifesto makes it an explicit commitment to stop profit-seeking in schools and to break school segregation.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto makes it an explicit commitment to stop profit-seeking in schools and to break school segregation. The counter-proposal warns against increased commercialisation and profit-seeking without sufficient risk assessments. The plan thus speaks for rejecting the bill, although it does not mention elite education as such.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet gör det till ett uttryckligt åtagande att sätta stopp för vinstjakten i skolan och att bryta skolsegregationen. Motförslagets skäl mot att permanenta reformen är just risken för ökad marknadisering och vinstjakt utan tillräckliga riskbedömningar. Planen talar därmed för att avvisa lagförslaget, även om den inte nämner spetsutbildning som sådan.
- stop profit-seeking in schoolsdecisive»sätta stopp för vinstjakten i skolan« (2022 manifesto ↗)“stop profit-seeking in schools”
- no profit interests in schools»Vinstintressen hör inte hemma i skolan när varje unge ska med.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Profit interests have no place in schools when every young person shall be included.”
- break school segregation»bryta skolsegregationen och göra skolvalet fritt och rättvist för alla« (2022 manifesto ↗)“break school segregation and make school choice free and fair for all”
- no sorting of students»alla har rätt att lyckas och utvecklas« (party programme ↗)“everyone has the right to succeed and develop”
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.
The plan protects free school choice and a diversity of providers and wants pupils' opportunity to choose education to be as great as possible.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan protects free school choice and a diversity of providers and wants pupils' opportunity to choose education to be as great as possible. A permanent nationally recruiting specialized education that meets particularly gifted pupils' needs aligns with this, while the counter-proposal's demand to reject the bill in order to counteract marketization lacks support in the plan. The plan's objection to profit-seeking instead takes the form of quality requirements for profit distribution and enhanced supervision, not stopping the reform.
Original (Swedish)
Planen värnar det fria skolvalet och en mångfald av utförare och vill att elevers möjlighet att välja utbildning ska vara så stor som möjligt. En permanent riksrekryterande spetsutbildning som möter särskilt begåvade elevers behov ligger i linje med detta, medan motförslagets krav på att avvisa lagförslaget för att motverka marknadisering saknar stöd i planen. Planens invändning mot vinstjakt tar sig i stället formen av kvalitetskrav för vinstutdelning och skärpt tillsyn, inte av att stoppa reformen.
- protect free school choicedecisive»Det fria skolvalet ska värnas och små skolor och förskolor på landsbygden ges förutsättningar att fortsätta sin verksamhet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Free school choice shall be protected and small schools and nurseries in rural areas given the opportunity to continue their activities.”
- free choice of education»Möjligheten för elever och studenter att fritt välja utbildning ska vara så stor som möjligt.« (party programme ↗)“The opportunity for pupils and students to freely choose education shall be as great as possible.”
- based on each pupil's needs»Skolan måste se varje elevs möjligheter och utmaningar att nå sina mål.« (party programme ↗)“School must see each pupil's opportunities and challenges to achieve their goals.”
- quality requirements for profit distribution»Vi vill ställa kvalitetskrav för vinstutdelning och stärka rättssäkerheten i betygssystemet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to set quality requirements for profit distribution and strengthen legal certainty in the grading system.”
The plan explicitly requires that students who want and can shall be able to go ahead instead of being held back, and that there is a need for more advanced classes around Sweden.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly requires that students who want and can shall be able to go ahead instead of being held back, and that there is a need for more advanced classes around Sweden. Rejecting the bill on permanent nationally recruiting advanced education contradicts that commitment. The plan's criticism of private school profit-taking is directed at profit-seeking at the expense of education, not at advanced education as such.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver uttryckligen att elever som vill och kan ska kunna gå före i stället för att hållas tillbaka, och att det behövs fler spetsklasser runt om i Sverige. Att avvisa lagförslaget om permanenta riksrekryterande spetsutbildningar strider mot det åtagandet. Planens kritik av friskolors vinstuttag riktar sig mot vinstjakt på kunskapens bekostnad, inte mot spetsutbildning som sådan.
- more advanced classesdecisive»Det kräver fler spetsklasser runt om i Sverige, men också att alla elever oavsett skola ska kunna få stöd i att sikta högre än godkänt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It requires more advanced classes around Sweden, but also that all students regardless of school shall be able to receive support to aim higher than the minimum pass grade.”
- students shall be able to go ahead»Elever som vill och kan ska kunna gå före i stället för att hållas tillbaka.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Students who want and can shall be able to go ahead instead of being held back.”
- support and challenges for all»Alla elever har rätt till stöd och utmaningar oavsett individuella förutsättningar.« (party programme ↗)“All students have the right to support and challenges regardless of individual circumstances.”
- freedom of choice without profit-seeking»Friheten för föräldrar och elever att själv välja skola är här för att stanna – men inte friskolornas vinstuttag på bekostnad av elevernas kunskaper.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The freedom for parents and students to choose their own school is here to stay – but not private schools' profit-taking at the expense of students' education.”
The party programme wants students with special talents to be encouraged and given opportunities to develop these, and that independent schools be encouraged and supported by the public.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme wants students with special talents to be encouraged and given opportunities to develop these, and that independent schools be encouraged and supported by the public. The counter-proposal wants to reject the bill with reference to marketization and profit-seeking, which goes against the plan's stance on both gifted students and private providers. The plan does not, however, speak to the quality of the review itself.
Original (Swedish)
Principprogrammet vill att elever med speciella talanger uppmuntras och ges förutsättningar att utveckla dessa, och att fristående skolor uppmuntras och stödjas av det offentliga. Motförslaget vill avvisa lagförslaget med hänvisning till marknadisering och vinstjakt, vilket går emot planens hållning till både särbegåvade elever och enskilda huvudmän. Planen talar däremot inte om beredningskvaliteten i sig.
- encourage gifted studentsdecisive»elever med speciella talanger och egenskaper uppmuntras« (party programme ↗)“students with special talents and characteristics are encouraged”
- independent schools are encouraged»som bestämmer sig för att driva fristående skolor ska« (party programme ↗)“who decide to run independent schools shall”
- diversity in educational offering»Ett brett spektrum av både teoretiska och praktiska utbildningar ska erbjudas eleverna.« (party programme ↗)“A broad spectrum of both theoretical and practical education shall be offered to students.”
The counter-proposal wants to stop the bill with reference to marketization and profit-seeking.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal wants to stop the bill with reference to marketization and profit-seeking. The plan, by contrast, stands for diversity and choice in the education system and notes that even students who do best fall behind internationally, which suggests education that challenges them. The plan's response to unserious operators is quality requirements and revoked licenses, not stopping independent providers.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget vill stoppa lagförslaget med hänvisning till marknadisering och vinstjakt. Planen står tvärtom för mångfald och valfrihet i utbildningssystemet och konstaterar att även de elever som det går bäst för halkar efter internationellt, vilket talar för utbildningar som utmanar dem. Planens svar på oseriösa aktörer är kvalitetskrav och indragna tillstånd, inte att stoppa fristående huvudmän.
- free school choice is preserveddecisive»Det fria skolvalet gör att alla barn oavsett bakgrund och ekonomi kan välja den skola som passar dem bäst. Den friheten vill vi bevara.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Free school choice means that all children regardless of background and means can choose the school that suits them best. We want to preserve that freedom.”
- high-achieving students must be challenged»Samtidigt halkar även de barn som det går bäst för efter i internationella kunskapsjämförelser.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“At the same time, even children who do best fall behind in international knowledge comparisons.”
- diversity in education»Det svenska utbildningssystemet ska präglas av mångfald« (party programme ↗)“The Swedish education system shall be characterized by diversity”
- quality requirements instead of prohibition»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 operated as businesses meet high quality criteria to make profit distributions and revoke licences for schools that seriously fall short”
The party programme establishes that both high-performing and low-performing students should be able to receive support and stimulation, which is exactly what nationally recruiting elite education aims at.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme establishes that both high-performing and low-performing students should be able to receive support and stimulation, which is exactly what nationally recruiting elite education aims at. The plan also values free school choice and sees independent alternatives as a way to increase supply and choice. The counter-proposal's demand to reject the bill by referring to marketisation thus goes against the plan's line.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att både högpresterande och lågpresterande elever ska kunna få stöd och stimulans, vilket är just vad riksrekryterande spetsutbildning syftar till. Planen värnar dessutom det fria skolvalet och ser fristående alternativ som ett sätt att öka utbud och valfrihet. Motförslagets krav på att avvisa lagförslaget med hänvisning till marknadisering går därför emot planens linje.
- support and stimulation for all studentsdecisive»lågpresterande elever skall kunna få stöd och stimulans.« (party programme ↗)“low-performing students shall be able to receive support and stimulation.”
- free school choice»Det fria skolvalet ska värnas för att ge valfrihet åt föräldrar och elever.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Free school choice shall be valued in order to give parents and students choice.”
- increased supply in schools»för att öka utbudet och valfriheten« (party programme ↗)“to increase supply and choice”
- knowledge focus and equal conditions»Återupprätta en kunskapsfokuserad skola genom beprövad pedagogik och fokus på traditionellt lärande med lika villkor på alla skolor« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Restore a knowledge-focused school through proven pedagogy and focus on traditional learning with equal conditions in all schools”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2023/24:UbU16)
- Committee report full text (HB01UbU16)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2023/24:1108 — Handlingsplan för särskilt begåvade elever av Marie Nicholson och Katarina Tolgfors (båda M)
- Motion 2023/24:2203 — Stärkt stöd till särskilt begåvade elever av Johanna Rantsi (M)
- Motion 2023/24:2482 — En skola för livsresor av Muharrem Demirok m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2023/24:2824 — med anledning av prop. 2023/24:79 Att lättare få läsa i snabbare takt och på en högre nivå av Camilla Hansén m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:2826 — med anledning av prop. 2023/24:79 Att lättare få läsa i snabbare takt och på en högre nivå av Åsa Westlund m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:2827 — med anledning av prop. 2023/24:79 Att lättare få läsa i snabbare takt och på en högre nivå av Anders Ådahl m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2023/24:368 — En gymnasieskola och vuxenutbildning i världsklass av Patrick Reslow m.fl. (SD)
- Proposition 2023/24:79 — Att lättare få läsa i snabbare takt och på en högre nivå
Source: The Swedish Parliament