2025-06-042024/25:UbU21 · p.4UbUEducation
The importance of youth associations etc. not being excluded from schools
Youth organisations' and other civil-society actors' access to schools
What's at stake: The new rule requiring schools to prevent unauthorised persons from entering school premises is meant to strengthen security and crime prevention in schools. The question is whether the rule risks unintentionally excluding civil-society actors, such as youth organisations, that otherwise contribute to school activities, and how much room there should be for local variation in how it is applied.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The reservation wanted the government to take steps to ensure that civil-society actors such as youth organisations are not shut out when schools, under the new provisions of the Education Act, must prevent unauthorised persons from entering school premises, while the committee rejected the motion.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee welcomes the government's proposed amendments to the Education Act to strengthen schools' crime-prevention security work, including the rule that the school's governing body must prevent unauthorised persons from entering school premises. The committee rejects the motion calling for a specific statement on youth organisations and similar actors, taking the view that implementation can be handled within the ordinary framework of the governing body's responsibility.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 5 (S, V, C, MP)
The reservation (S, V, C, MP) stresses the importance of civil-society actors that contribute to school activities, such as youth organisations, not being shut out when the governing body acts to prevent unauthorised persons from entering school premises, and wants room for local variation in how the rule is applied, with the government taking suitable measures.
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 5 by S, V, C, MP.
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 0/20/0/4 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| S | No | No 0/93/0/13 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | No 0/15/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | No 0/21/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| L | No | Yes 13/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| KD | No | Yes 16/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| M | No | Yes 61/0/0/7 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| SD | No | Yes 63/0/0/9 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects motion 2024/25:3425 by Niels Paarup-Petersen et al. (C) point 3.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motion 2024/25:3425 av Niels Paarup-Petersen m.fl. (C) yrkande 3.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag approved the government's proposal on crime prevention security work in schools being introduced as a new chapter in the School Act. The proposal means, among other things, that at each pre-school and school unit there shall be a contingency plan and ongoing security work to handle a serious violence situation or threat of such. Measures shall also be taken so that unauthorized persons are not given access to the pre-school or school unit's area during the time the activities are taking place. The proposal also means that confidentiality shall apply to information relating to schools' contingency plans and ongoing contingency work for serious violence and threat situations. The proposal also means that headmasters shall be able to decide that bags and other items that students bring to school, or to a school activity outside the school area, may be searched. If a suspected crime has been committed by a student in connection with the school's activities, the headmaster shall make a police report, if there are no overriding reasons not to do so. The legal amendments come into force on 1 July 2025.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to reject mandatory bag searches by school staff and to limit police reporting to concrete offences. (S, V, C, MP) — Reservation 5
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 pushes for conditions that secure strong independence for civic education, associational and cultural life and sees school as part of the democratic infrastructure that builds cohesion and the ability to participate as a citizen.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan pushes for conditions that secure strong independence for civic education, associational and cultural life and sees school as part of the democratic infrastructure that builds cohesion and the ability to participate as a citizen. That civil society actors such as youth associations are not excluded when the principal is to prevent unauthorised access follows from that. The plan says nothing about the schools' security rules as such.
Original (Swedish)
Planen driver på för villkor som säkrar en stark självständighet för folkbildning, förenings- och kulturliv och ser skolan som en del av den demokratiska infrastruktur som bygger sammanhållning och förmågan att delta som medborgare. Att civilsamhällesaktörer som ungdomsförbund inte stängs ute när huvudmannen ska hindra obehörigas tillträde följer av det. Planen säger inget om skolornas säkerhetsregler i sig.
- strong conditions for associational lifedecisive»Vi driver på för villkor som säkrar en stark« (party programme ↗)“We push for conditions that secure strong”
- independent associational and cultural life»självständighet för medier, fackföreningar, folkbildning, konst« (party programme ↗)“independence for media, trade unions, civic education, art”
- school as democratic infrastructure»som kan bygga sammanhållning och stärka förmågan att delta« (party programme ↗)“that can build cohesion and strengthen the ability to participate”
- spaces for political conversation»Det behövs gott om utrymmen för folkliga politiska« (party programme ↗)“There is great need for spaces for popular political”
The party programme makes vibrant popular movements and a rich associational life central parts of democracy and highlights civil society's democratic education of children and young people.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme makes vibrant popular movements and a rich associational life central parts of democracy and highlights civil society's democratic education of children and young people. This suggests that youth organisations and other civil society actors should not be excluded when the principal restricts unauthorised access to schools. The plan simultaneously values study peace and safety in schools, but sees no contradiction between school security work and continued democratic presence in schools.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet gör livskraftiga folkrörelser och ett rikt föreningsliv till bärande delar av demokratin och lyfter föreningslivets demokratiska skolning av barn och unga. Det talar för att ungdomsförbund och andra civilsamhällesaktörer inte ska stängas ute när huvudmannen begränsar obehörigas tillträde till skolan. Planen värnar samtidigt studiero och trygghet i skolan, men ser inget motsatsförhållande mellan skolans säkerhetsarbete och en fortsatt demokratisk närvaro i skolan.
- livskraftiga folkrörelserdecisive»Livskraftiga folkrörelser för att hålla ihop samhället.« (party programme ↗)“Vibrant popular movements to hold society together.”
- föreningslivets demokratiska skolning»Ett rikt föreningsliv bidrar till demokratisk skolning.« (party programme ↗)“A rich associational life contributes to democratic education.”
- folkbildning stärker demokratin»Folkbildning ger stark demokrati och möjligheter till personlig utveckling vid sidan av den formella utbildningen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Folk education provides strong democracy and opportunities for personal development alongside formal education.”
- trygghet i skolan»Studiero och trygghet i skolorna.« (party programme ↗)“Study peace and safety in schools.”
The party programme establishes that functioning school democracy is an important part of a good school and that students shall be prepared to participate in society's development.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme establishes that functioning school democracy is an important part of a good school and that students shall be prepared to participate in society's development. The election manifesto wants to strengthen cooperation with civil society around the school. That civil society actors such as youth organizations are not excluded when access is restricted thus follows from these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att en fungerande skoldemokrati är en viktig del av en bra skola och att eleverna ska förberedas för att delta i samhällsutvecklingen. Valmanifestet vill stärka samarbetet med civilsamhället kring skolan. Att civilsamhällesaktörer som ungdomsförbund inte stängs ute när tillträdet begränsas följer av dessa åtaganden.
- school democracydecisive»En fungerande skoldemokrati är en viktig del av en bra skola.« (party programme ↗)“A functioning school democracy is an important part of a good school.”
- school prepares for democracy»Etiska diskussioner och övning i kritiskt tänkande är viktiga inslag i undervisningen för att förbereda varje elev för att delta i samhällsutvecklingen.« (party programme ↗)“Ethical discussions and practice in critical thinking are important elements in teaching to prepare each student to participate in society's development.”
- active citizenship»Vi tror på en demokrati med aktiva och delaktiga medborgare.« (party programme ↗)“We believe in a democracy with active and engaged citizens.”
- cooperation with civil society»lätta på sekretessen mellan områdespoliser, skola, socialtjänst och stärka samarbetet med civilsamhälle så att inga barn faller mellan stolarna i det förebyggande arbetet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“ease secrecy restrictions between neighbourhood police, school, social services and strengthen cooperation with civil society so that no children fall through the cracks in preventive work.”
The party programme establishes that civil society is a fundamental part of democracy and important for democratic education, and that the task of policy is to remove obstacles to this force of development.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme establishes that civil society is a fundamental part of democracy and important for democratic education, and that the task of policy is to remove obstacles to this force of development. Excluding youth associations from schools would be precisely such an obstacle. The plan's requirement for decentralisation and decisions close to those affected also speaks in favour of room for local variations in implementation.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att civilsamhället är en fundamental del av demokratin och viktigt för demokratisk fostran, och att politikens uppgift är att riva hinder för denna utvecklingskraft. Att ungdomsförbund stängs ute från skolorna vore just ett sådant hinder. Planens krav på decentralisering och beslut nära dem som berörs talar också för utrymme för lokala variationer i tillämpningen.
- remove obstacles for civil societydecisive»Politikens uppgift är att riva hinder och röja väg för denna utvecklingskraft.« (party programme ↗)“The task of policy is to remove obstacles and clear the way for this force of development.”
- civil society bears democracy»Det civila samhället, människornas frivilliga organisering, är en fundamental del av varje väl fungerande demokrati och välfärdsstat.« (party programme ↗)“Civil society, people's voluntary organisation, is a fundamental part of every well-functioning democracy and welfare state.”
- civil society's role»Civilsamhällets roll för att binda samman människor och förbättra integrationen är ovärderlig.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Civil society's role in bringing people together and improving integration is invaluable.”
- local solutions»Decentralisera mera. Människor ska få bestämma mer själva, och politiska beslut ska fattas nära dem som berörs.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Decentralise more. People should be able to decide more themselves, and political decisions should be made close to those affected.”
The election manifesto establishes that society is built from below and that civil society is a prerequisite for democracy, and the party programme that civil society increases democratic participation and that schools shall actively work for democracy.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto establishes that society is built from below and that civil society is a prerequisite for democracy, and the party programme that civil society increases democratic participation and that schools shall actively work for democracy. That democratic youth organizations are not excluded when unauthorized persons are kept out is in line with this, while at the same time the plan requires schooling free from separatist influence.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet slår fast att samhället byggs underifrån och att civilsamhället är en förutsättning för demokratin, och partiprogrammet att det civila samhället ökar det demokratiska deltagandet och att skolan aktivt ska verka för demokrati. Att demokratiska ungdomsförbund inte stängs ute när obehöriga hålls borta ligger i linje med detta, samtidigt som planen kräver en skolgång fri från separatistisk påverkan.
- civil society bears democracydecisive»Samhället byggs underifrån – civilsamhället är inte ett komplement till utan en förutsättning för demokratin.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Society is built from below – civil society is not a complement to but a prerequisite for democracy.”
- civil society increases participation»Det civila samhället ökar det demokratiska deltagandet och människors inflytande i samhälleliga« (party programme ↗)“Civil society increases democratic participation and people's influence in societal”
- schools shall work for democracy»Utbildningssystemet ska inte vara värderingsfritt.« (party programme ↗)“The educational system shall not be value-free.”
- schooling free from separatists»Vi vill ta tillbaka makten från separatister i utsatta områden, värna en skolgång fri från separatistisk påverkan och pröva möjligheten att införa vistelseförbud för dömda kriminella i utsatta områden.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to take back power from separatists in disadvantaged areas, protect schooling free from separatist influence and test the possibility of introducing residence bans for convicted criminals in disadvantaged areas.”
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 gives the school great responsibility for preparing students for participation in democracy and requires that the school is a democratic environment that allows different opinions.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan gives the school great responsibility for preparing students for participation in democracy and requires that the school is a democratic environment that allows different opinions. A vital civil society is according to the plan of greatest importance for a living democracy. That youth associations and other civil society actors are not excluded when access rules are applied therefore follows from the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen ger skolan ett stort ansvar för att förbereda eleverna för deltagande i demokratin och kräver att skolan är en demokratisk miljö som tillåter olika åsikter. Ett vitalt civilt samhälle är enligt planen av största vikt för en levande demokrati. Att ungdomsförbund och andra civilsamhällesaktörer inte stängs ute när tillträdesreglerna tillämpas följer därför av planen.
- school's democracy remitdecisive»Skolan har ett stort ansvar för att förbereda de uppväxande medborgarna för ett deltagande i demokratin.« (party programme ↗)“The school has great responsibility for preparing the growing generation of citizens for participation in democracy.”
- school as democratic environment»Skolan måste vara en demokratisk miljö som tillåter olika åsikter och visar hur oenighet kan hanteras på ett konstruktivt sätt.« (party programme ↗)“The school must be a democratic environment that allows different opinions and shows how disagreement can be handled in a constructive way.”
- vital civil society»Ett vitalt civilt samhälle är av största vikt för en levande demokrati och ett mänskligt samhälle.« (party programme ↗)“A vital civil society is of greatest importance for a living democracy and a humane society.”
- strengthened civil society»STÄRKT CIVILSAMHÄLLE« (2022 manifesto ↗)“STRENGTHENED CIVIL SOCIETY”
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 party programme wants a vibrant political life where people's community engagement finds expression and sees the plurality of social spheres as an important power balance, and that decisions shall be made at the lowest effective level.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme wants a vibrant political life where people's community engagement finds expression and sees the plurality of social spheres as an important power balance, and that decisions shall be made at the lowest effective level. That speaks for youth organisations and other civil society actors not being excluded and for space for local variations. The plan's demand for strengthened head teacher authority qualifies but does not eliminate this.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet vill ha ett levande politiskt liv där människors samhällsengagemang kommer till uttryck och ser pluralismen av samhällssfärer som en viktig maktbalans, samt att beslut ska fattas på lägsta effektiva nivå. Det talar för att ungdomsförbund och andra civilsamhällesaktörer inte ska stängas ute och för utrymme för lokala variationer. Planens krav på stärkt rektorsauktoritet kvalificerar men upphäver inte detta.
- vibrant political lifedecisive»Sverige ska ha ett levande politiskt liv« (party programme ↗)“Sweden shall have a vibrant political life”
- plurality of social spheres»Starka självständiga institutioner och en pluralism av samhällssfärer ger en viktig maktbalans i samhället.« (party programme ↗)“Strong independent institutions and a plurality of social spheres give an important power balance in society.”
- decisions at lowest effective level»Det politiska systemet ska bygga på att beslut fattas på lägsta« (party programme ↗)“The political system shall be based on decisions being made at the lowest”
- head teacher's authority»Stärka lärares och rektorers auktoritet att kunna ingripa i stökiga situationer« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen teachers' and head teachers' authority to be able to intervene in disruptive situations”
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 to strengthen the possibility of free and value-independent opinion formation and create better conditions for young people's civil society life.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to strengthen the possibility of free and value-independent opinion formation and create better conditions for young people's civil society life. That civil society youth associations are not excluded when schools prevent unauthorized access follows that line. At the same time, the plan demands zero tolerance for insecurity in schools, so the balance is inferred.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill stärka möjligheten till fri och värdeoberoende åsiktsbildning och skapa bättre förutsättningar för ungas föreningsliv. Att civilsamhällets ungdomsförbund inte stängs ute när skolan ska hindra obehöriga från tillträde följer den linjen. Samtidigt kräver planen nolltolerans mot otrygghet i skolan, så avvägningen är härledd.
- free opinion formationdecisive»Stärka möjligheten till fri och värdeoberoende åsiktsbildning« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen the possibility of free and value-independent opinion formation”
- active civil society life for young people»Det är också viktigt att skapa bättre förutsättningar för ungdomarna att hitta utlopp för sina intressen och stimulera till ett aktivt föreningsliv.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It is also important to create better conditions for young people to find outlets for their interests and stimulate an active civil society life.”
- freedom of speech»Varje journalists, konstutövares och medborgares rätt att uttrycka sig fritt utan att utsättas för hot eller repressalier ska värnas och stärkas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Every journalist's, artist's and citizen's right to express themselves freely without being subjected to threats or reprisals shall be protected and strengthened.”
- safe school environment»Förbättra arbetsmiljön genom att införa nolltolerans mot våld och otrygghet i skolan« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Improve the working environment by introducing zero tolerance for violence and insecurity in schools”
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:UbU21)
- Committee report full text (HC01UbU21)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2024/25:3422 — med anledning av prop. 2024/25:160 Skolor mot brott av Daniel Riazat m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2024/25:3424 — med anledning av prop. 2024/25:160 Skolor mot brott av Åsa Westlund m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2024/25:3425 — med anledning av prop. 2024/25:160 Skolor mot brott av Niels Paarup-Petersen m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2024/25:3426 — med anledning av prop. 2024/25:160 Skolor mot brott av Camilla Hansén m.fl. (MP)
- Proposition 2024/25:160 — Skolor mot brott
Source: The Swedish Parliament