2024-05-222023/24:UbU16 · p.3UbUEducation
Nationally recruiting advanced education
Introducing nationally recruiting advanced-track programs without a prior evaluation
What's at stake: A quick rollout could give more students who need extra challenges access to advanced-track programs, but critics say an undefined target group and insufficient evaluation make it hard to foresee the effects on students and the school system.
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 should be introduced now, or whether the government should first properly evaluate the pilot activity and define the target group before the reform is implemented.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee considers that today's options for studying at a faster pace and a higher level are not always sufficient for students who need extra challenges, and therefore welcomes the government's proposal for nationally recruiting advanced-track programs, rejecting the motions calling to pause the reform pending further evaluation and a clearer definition of the target group.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 2 (S, V)
The reservation argues that the advanced-track programs have so far only been evaluated qualitatively and anecdotally, that preparation was flawed because the proposal for nationally recruiting programs was added late with few given a chance to comment, and that the target group is undefined, making it impossible to assess the impact on students and the school system; it wants the government to properly evaluate and analyze the impact before parliament decides on the reform.
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 2 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: medium | derived |
| S | No | No 0/93/0/13 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | Yes 16/0/0/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| 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 60/0/0/8 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| SD | Yes | Yes 62/0/0/10 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects motion 2023/24:2826 by Åsa Westlund et al. (S) demands 1, 6 and 7.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motion 2023/24:2826 av Åsa Westlund m.fl. (S) yrkandena 1, 6 och 7.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag said yes to the government's proposal which means better opportunities for students in compulsory school, special school and Sami school to study at a higher level and for students in upper secondary school to proceed at a faster pace. Some compulsory school students with special talent or who are high-achieving may need education in a specially adapted study environment where there is an opportunity for daily exchange of experience and joint learning with other students with the same aptitude and interest. The Riksdag considers that the government's proposal to introduce advanced education permanently is valuable and will be of significance for students who today do not get sufficient challenges in school. The new rules begin to apply on 2 July 2024. Some rules 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 2
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 party programme requires that political solutions are developed with time and thought and are based on proposals that prove effective on the day they are implemented.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme requires that political solutions are developed with time and thought and are based on proposals that prove effective on the day they are implemented. The counter-proposal's demand for proper evaluation and impact analysis before the top education reform is implemented follows from that, as does the plan's resistance to the market school being expanded. The plan does not state a position on top education as such.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet kräver att politiska lösningar tas fram med tid och eftertanke och bygger på förslag som visar sig effektiva den dag de genomförs. Motförslagets krav på ordentlig utvärdering och konsekvensanalys innan spetsutbildningsreformen genomförs följer av det, liksom av planens motstånd mot att marknadsskolan byggs ut. Planen uttalar sig inte om spetsutbildning som sådan.
- evidence-tested reformsdecisive»förslag som visar sig effektiva och rättvisa den dag de genomförs.« (party programme ↗)“proposals that prove effective and fair on the day they are implemented.”
- careful preparation»Att utveckla kloka politiska lösningar kräver alltid tid och eftertanke.« (party programme ↗)“Developing wise political solutions always requires time and thought.”
- abolish the market school»Vänsterpartiet vill avskaffa marknadsskolan med start nästa mandatperiod.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Left Party wants to abolish the market school starting next election period.”
- compensatory school»En skola som ger barn lika chanser är också kompensatorisk, det vill säga den förmår ge mer stöd till den som kommer från sämre förutsättningar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“A school that gives children equal chances is also compensatory, that is to say it is able to give more support to the one who comes from worse preconditions.”
The plan wants to stop market-driven schools and give municipalities decisive influence over new school establishments, and prioritizes the most disadvantaged schools over new separate solutions.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to stop market-driven schools and give municipalities decisive influence over new school establishments, and prioritizes the most disadvantaged schools over new separate solutions. Pausing the nationally recruiting elite education until a proper evaluation and impact analysis is done aligns with that caution. However, the plan does not take a position on elite education as such.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill stoppa marknadsskolan och ge kommunerna avgörande inflytande över nya skoletableringar, och prioriterar de mest utsatta skolorna framför nya särlösningar. Att pausa den riksrekryterande spetsutbildningen tills en ordentlig utvärdering och konsekvensanalys gjorts ligger i linje med den försiktigheten. Planen uttalar sig dock inte om spetsutbildning som sådan.
- stop to market-driven schoolsdecisive»För det krävs mer resurser och att resurserna stannar i skolan genom ett stopp för marknadsskolan.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“That requires more resources and keeping resources in schools through a stop to market-driven schools.”
- municipal influence over establishments»Kommunerna ska ha ett avgörande inflytande över nya skoletableringar.« (party programme ↗)“Municipalities shall have decisive influence over new school establishments.”
- resources to disadvantaged schools first»De mest utsatta skolorna och förskolorna måste få mer resurser.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The most disadvantaged schools and preschools must receive more resources.”
The plan says nothing about the preparation of this particular reform.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan says nothing about the preparation of this particular reform. The closest commitments are that school shall be free from profit-seeking and school segregation and that a good school has a clear link to research, which speaks for the requirement for proper evaluation before the reform is implemented. At the same time, the plan embraces the idea that students can be given extra challenges, which makes the support weak and conditional.
Original (Swedish)
Planen säger inget om beredningen av just denna reform. Närmast liggande åtaganden är att skolan ska vara fri från vinstjakt och skolsegregation och att en bra skola har tydlig koppling till forskning, vilket talar för kravet på en ordentlig utvärdering innan reformen genomförs. Samtidigt bejakar planen att elever ska kunna ges extra utmaningar, vilket gör stödet svagt och betingat.
- school policy on research basisdecisive»bra skola har tydlig koppling till forskning och tar« (party programme ↗)“good school has a clear link to research and takes”
- against increased school segregation»bryta skolsegregationen och göra skolvalet fritt och rättvist för alla« (2022 manifesto ↗)“break down school segregation and make school choice free and fair for all”
- stop for profit-seeking in schools»sätta stopp för vinstjakten i skolan« (2022 manifesto ↗)“put a stop to profit-seeking in schools”
- teaching according to student needs»Undervisningen ska utformas utifrån varje elevs unika« (party programme ↗)“Teaching shall be designed on the basis of each student's unique”
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 wants students' opportunity to freely choose education to be as large as possible and that school sees each student's opportunities and challenges to reach their goals.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants students' opportunity to freely choose education to be as large as possible and that school sees each student's opportunities and challenges to reach their goals. That speaks for implementing the elite education, not for the counter-proposal's demand for a pause awaiting further evaluation and impact analysis. The party programme's view that education's foundation is knowledge acquisition rather than time in classroom reinforces the same conclusion.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill att elevers möjlighet att fritt välja utbildning ska vara så stor som möjligt och att skolan ser varje elevs möjligheter och utmaningar att nå sina mål. Det talar för att genomföra spetsutbildningen, inte för motförslagets krav på paus i väntan på ytterligare utvärdering och konsekvensanalys. Partiprogrammets syn att utbildningens grund är kunskapsinhämtning snarare än tid i klassrummet stärker samma slutsats.
- free choice of educationdecisive»Möjligheten för elever och studenter att fritt välja utbildning ska vara så stor som möjligt.« (party programme ↗)“The opportunity for students and pupils to freely choose education shall be as large as possible.”
- start from each student's needs»Skolan måste se varje elevs möjligheter och utmaningar att nå sina mål.« (party programme ↗)“School must see each student's opportunities and challenges to reach their goals.”
- knowledge before time in classroom»Utbildningens grund är kunskapsinhämtning och inte vilken tid som tillbringas i klassrummet.« (party programme ↗)“Education's foundation is knowledge acquisition and not what time is spent in the classroom.”
- protect school choice»Det fria skolvalet ska värnas« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Free school choice shall be protected”
The plan requires more advanced classes throughout Sweden and that pupils who want and can shall be able to advance instead of being held back.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires more advanced classes throughout Sweden and that pupils who want and can shall be able to advance instead of being held back. To pause the reform pending further evaluation and a clearer target group definition delays precisely what the plan wants to achieve. The counter-proposal's demands are therefore rejected.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver fler spetsklasser runt om i Sverige och att elever som vill och kan ska kunna gå före i stället för att hållas tillbaka. Att pausa reformen i väntan på ytterligare utvärdering och en tydligare målgruppsdefinition fördröjer just det planen vill åstadkomma. Motförslagets krav avvisas därför.
- pupils shall get to advancedecisive»Elever som vill och kan ska kunna gå före i stället för att hållas tillbaka.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Pupils who want and can shall be able to advance instead of being held back.”
- more advanced classes»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 ↗)“This requires more advanced classes throughout Sweden, but also that all pupils regardless of school shall be able to get support in aiming higher than satisfactory.”
- support and challenges for all»Alla elever har rätt till stöd och utmaningar oavsett individuella förutsättningar.« (party programme ↗)“All pupils have the right to support and challenges regardless of individual preconditions.”
- pupil's knowledge development in focus»Eleven och elevens kunskapsutveckling ska vara i fokus.« (party programme ↗)“The pupil and the pupil's knowledge development shall be in focus.”
The party programme wants instruction to aim at realizing each student's full potential and for students with special talents to be encouraged and given conditions to develop them.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme wants instruction to aim at realizing each student's full potential and for students with special talents to be encouraged and given conditions to develop them. The counter-proposal wants to postpone the reform pending further evaluation, which in effect delays precisely what the plan calls for. The plan's general requirement for evaluation speaks partly the other way.
Original (Swedish)
Principprogrammet vill att undervisningen syftar till att förverkliga varje elevs fulla potential och att elever med speciella talanger uppmuntras och ges förutsättningar att utveckla dessa. Motförslaget vill skjuta upp reformen i väntan på ytterligare utvärdering, vilket i sak fördröjer just det planen efterlyser. Planens allmänna krav på utvärdering talar delvis åt andra hållet.
- encourage gifted studentsdecisive»elever med speciella talanger och egenskaper uppmuntras« (party programme ↗)“students with special talents and abilities are encouraged”
- student's full potential»syfta till att förverkliga varje enskild elevs fulla potential« (party programme ↗)“aim at realizing each individual student's full potential”
- evaluation of the school»Det är viktigt att utvärderingar görs av elevernas kunnande så att eventuella brister kan åtgärdas« (party programme ↗)“It is important that evaluations are made of student performance so that any shortcomings can be addressed”
The counter-proposal wants to postpone the reform pending further evaluation.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal wants to postpone the reform pending further evaluation. The plan is explicitly action-oriented and points out that even the highest-performing students are falling behind internationally, which speaks for implementing education that challenges them now. That reforms should be based on proven experience does indeed speak for evaluation, but the plan provides no basis for pausing the initiative.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget vill skjuta upp reformen i väntan på ytterligare utvärdering. Planen är uttalat handlingsinriktad och pekar ut att även de mest högpresterande eleverna halkar efter internationellt, vilket talar för att genomföra utbildningar som utmanar dem nu. Att reformer ska vila på beprövad erfarenhet talar visserligen för utvärdering, men planen ger ingen grund för att pausa satsningen.
- high-performing students are falling behinddecisive»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.”
- action-oriented reform policy»en offensiv reformpolitik som på allvar kan ta itu med samhällsproblemen och få något gjort« (2022 manifesto ↗)“an offensive reform policy that can seriously address social problems and get things done”
- world-class knowledge nation»Sverige ska vara en kunskapsnation i världsklass.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden should be a world-class knowledge nation.”
flags: citat_blockerat
The plan presumes that students shall receive support and stimulation regardless of performance level and prioritizes individual help to students within a knowledge-focused school.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan presumes that students shall receive support and stimulation regardless of performance level and prioritizes individual help to students within a knowledge-focused school. A nationally recruiting elite education is such support for students who need greater challenges. The counter-proposal's demand to pause the reform pending further evaluation delays that commitment and is therefore rejected by the plan's line.
Original (Swedish)
Planen förutsätter att elever ska få stöd och stimulans oavsett prestationsnivå och prioriterar individuell hjälp till elever inom en kunskapsfokuserad skola. En riksrekryterande spetsutbildning är ett sådant stöd till elever som behöver större utmaningar. Motförslagets krav på att pausa reformen i väntan på ytterligare utvärdering fördröjer det åtagandet och avvisas därför av planens linje.
- stimulation for all studentsdecisive»lågpresterande elever skall kunna få stöd och stimulans.« (party programme ↗)“lower-performing students shall be able to get support and stimulation.”
- individual help to students»En arbetsmiljö som ger utrymme för studiero, arbetsglädje och individuell hjälp till elever ska prioriteras.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“A work environment that gives room for study peace, work joy and individual help to students shall be prioritized.”
- knowledge-focused school»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