2026-03-112025/26:UbU8 · p.7UbUEducation
Subjects and Knowledge Areas
Curriculum subject content, source criticism and media literacy
What's at stake: A curriculum inquiry has proposed a clearer knowledge focus and new curricula. How much teaching time goes to source criticism and media and information literacy concerns students' ability to navigate digital information and AI-generated content, and affects all students in compulsory and upper-secondary school.
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 parliament should use specific directives to steer the content of school subjects and knowledge areas, such as teaching in source criticism and media and information literacy, or whether this should be left to the government, the Schools Agency and the ongoing curriculum review.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee rejects the motions on subjects and knowledge areas. It points out that subjects and syllabuses are regulated through the Education Act and curricula decided by the government and the Schools Agency, and awaits the curriculum inquiry that has already proposed a clearer knowledge focus, including on digital source criticism.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 13 (MP)
The reservation (res-13) wants to strengthen the mandate to teach media and information literacy in the curricula and qualification goals for compulsory and upper-secondary school. It argues that young people spend a lot of time in a digital environment where AI and social media algorithms increase vulnerability to disinformation, and that without this the ability to distinguish truth from falsehood is eroded.
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 13 by 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 | Abstain 0/0/18/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | Abstain 0/0/89/17 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | No 0/15/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | Yes 21/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| 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 | not addressed |
| M | Yes | Yes 56/0/0/12 | follows the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| SD | No | Yes 62/0/0/9 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | derived |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2025/26:933 by Jamal El-Haj (-) item 1, 2025/26:1057 by Jamal El-Haj (-) item 1, 2025/26:1114 by Anne-Li Sjölund (C), 2025/26:1334 by Runar Filper (SD), 2025/26:1501 by Jamal El-Haj (-) item 3, 2025/26:1520 by Emma Ahlström Köster (M) item 5, 2025/26:1800 by Magnus Jacobsson (KD) item 1, 2025/26:2023 by Sten Bergheden (M), 2025/26:2791 by Isabell Mixter and others (V) item 19, 2025/26:2879 by Marléne Lund Kopparklint and others (M), 2025/26:3053 by Cecilia Gustafsson (M), 2025/26:3244 by Camilla Brunsberg (M) items 1 and 2, 2025/26:3260 by Alexandra Anstrell (M), 2025/26:3364 by Camilla Hansén and others (MP) items 35 and 37, 2025/26:3562 by Anna Lasses (C) item 1 and 2025/26:3810 by Anders Ygeman and others (S) item 40.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2025/26:933 av Jamal El-Haj (-) yrkande 1, 2025/26:1057 av Jamal El-Haj (-) yrkande 1, 2025/26:1114 av Anne-Li Sjölund (C), 2025/26:1334 av Runar Filper (SD), 2025/26:1501 av Jamal El-Haj (-) yrkande 3, 2025/26:1520 av Emma Ahlström Köster (M) yrkande 5, 2025/26:1800 av Magnus Jacobsson (KD) yrkande 1, 2025/26:2023 av Sten Bergheden (M), 2025/26:2791 av Isabell Mixter m.fl. (V) yrkande 19, 2025/26:2879 av Marléne Lund Kopparklint m.fl. (M), 2025/26:3053 av Cecilia Gustafsson (M), 2025/26:3244 av Camilla Brunsberg (M) yrkandena 1 och 2, 2025/26:3260 av Alexandra Anstrell (M), 2025/26:3364 av Camilla Hansén m.fl. (MP) yrkandena 35 och 37, 2025/26:3562 av Anna Lasses (C) yrkande 1 och 2025/26:3810 av Anders Ygeman m.fl. (S) yrkande 40.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag rejected 146 proposals on fundamental education issues in motions from the general motion period 2025. The motions address, among other things, the school's value base, security and study peace, subjects and knowledge areas, grades and assessment, teaching materials and teaching methods, instruction in mother tongue at school, and after-school centers. The Riksdag refers primarily to applicable regulations and ongoing work in the areas covered by the proposals.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to strengthen gender equality in schools by meeting boys with the same high expectations as girls and strengthen teachers' focus on gender issues. (MP) — Reservation 13
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 emphasizes that the school is part of the democratic infrastructure with a broad mandate, and warns that right-wing populist forces are trying to control information and content increasingly hard.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan emphasizes that the school is part of the democratic infrastructure with a broad mandate, and warns that right-wing populist forces are trying to control information and content increasingly hard. Therefore, it wants to invest in folk education and independent media. Strengthening media and information literacy in the curricula follows from the same commitment.
Original (Swedish)
Planen betonar att skolan är en del av den demokratiska infrastrukturen med ett brett uppdrag, och varnar för att högerpopulistiska krafter försöker styra information och innehåll allt hårdare. Därför vill den satsa på folkbildning och oberoende medier. Att stärka medie- och informationskunnigheten i läroplanerna följer av samma åtagande.
- folk education against misinformationdecisive»Därför är det särskilt viktigt att satsa på och utveckla folkbiblioteken, folkbildningen och public services oberoende ställning.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Therefore, it is especially important to invest in and develop public libraries, folk education and public service's independent position.”
- broad school mandate»Vi vill se en skola med ett brett uppdrag« (party programme ↗)“We want to see a school with a broad mandate”
- democratic infrastructure»bygger förtroende mellan människor, förståelse för samhällets komplexitet« (party programme ↗)“builds trust between people, understanding of society's complexity”
- free information and democracy»En fri kultur är avgörande för en stark demokrati.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“A free culture is decisive for a strong democracy.”
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 identifies measures against disinformation and hate propaganda as an independent goal and states that self-regulation by digital platforms has failed.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan identifies measures against disinformation and hate propaganda as an independent goal and states that self-regulation by digital platforms has failed. Strengthening media and information literacy in the curricula is a direct way to build the resilience that the election manifesto seeks. The plan provides no support for current provisions on digital source criticism being sufficient.
Original (Swedish)
Planen pekar ut åtgärder mot desinformation och hatpropaganda som ett eget mål och konstaterar att självregleringen av de digitala plattformarna har brustit. Att stärka medie- och informationskunnighet i läroplanerna är ett direkt sätt att bygga den motståndskraft valmanifestet efterlyser. Planen ger inget stöd för att nuvarande skrivningar om digital källkritik räcker.
- measures against disinformationdecisive»Åtgärder mot desinformation, hatpropaganda och hot.« (party programme ↗)“Measures against disinformation, hate propaganda and threats.”
- strengthened resilience against disinformation»Arbetet för att stärka förmågan att stå emot cyberattacker och desinformation ska stärkas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The work to strengthen the ability to resist cyber attacks and disinformation shall be strengthened.”
- failed platform regulation»Självregleringen av dessa digitala plattformar har brustit.« (party programme ↗)“Self-regulation of these digital platforms has failed.”
- school's literacy and educational mission»Skolbiblioteken har en central roll att spela för ökad läskunnighet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“School libraries have a central role to play for improved literacy.”
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 requires that schools provide students with tools to understand and influence digitalization and that children be given the tools to think critically.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme requires that schools provide students with tools to understand and influence digitalization and that children be given the tools to think critically. The programme also lifts the role of education in a time of misinformation and polarization. The counter-proposal's demands for strengthened media and information literacy in curricula is a direct application of these commitments, even though curriculum formulations are not explicitly mentioned.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet kräver att skolan ger elever verktyg för att förstå och påverka digitaliseringen och att barn får redskapen att tänka kritiskt. Programmet lyfter också bildningens roll i en tid av desinformation och polarisering. Motförslagets krav på stärkt medie- och informationskunnighet i läroplanerna är en direkt tillämpning av dessa åtaganden, även om läroplansformuleringar inte nämns uttryckligen.
- tools to understand digitalizationdecisive»Skolan ska även ge elever verktyg för att förstå och påverka digitaliseringen, utveckla« (party programme ↗)“Schools shall also provide students with tools to understand and influence digitalization, develop”
- critical thinking in schools»I skolan ska barn och ungdomar få både viljan och redskapen att lära, tänka kritiskt och« (party programme ↗)“In schools, children and young people shall be given both the will and the tools to learn, think critically and”
- education against misinformation»I en tid av desinformation, polarisering, klimatkris och säkerhetspolitiska hot blir« (party programme ↗)“In a time of misinformation, polarization, climate crisis and security policy threats,”
- the power of platforms»Det är ett demokratiskt problem att några få globala tech-företag kontrollerar plattformar« (party programme ↗)“It is a democratic problem that a few global tech companies control platforms”
The election manifesto makes comprehensive and independent media monitoring decisive for democracy and wants to protect liberal democracy against internal threats.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto makes comprehensive and independent media monitoring decisive for democracy and wants to protect liberal democracy against internal threats. The party programme states that all children have the right to the knowledge that makes them participating citizens and that education strengthens the democratic foundation, while a digital society is welcomed with strong protection for freedom of information. A strengthened mandate on media and information literacy in curricula follows from this.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet gör en allsidig och oberoende mediebevakning avgörande för demokratin och vill skydda den liberala demokratin mot inre hot. Partiprogrammet slår fast att alla barn har rätt till de kunskaper som gör dem till delaktiga samhällsmedborgare och att bildning stärker den demokratiska grunden, samtidigt som ett digitalt samhälle bejakas med starkt skydd för informationsfriheten. Ett stärkt uppdrag om medie- och informationskunnighet i läroplanerna följer av detta.
- knowledge for participating citizenshipdecisive»Alla barn har rätt att få de kunskaper som gör dem till delaktiga samhällsmedborgare.« (party programme ↗)“All children have the right to gain the knowledge that makes them participating citizens.”
- media decisive for democracy»En allsidig, oberoende och livskraftig mediebevakning i hela landet är avgörande för demokratin.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“A comprehensive, independent and vigorous media monitoring throughout the country is decisive for democracy.”
- education strengthens democracy»Bildning breddar våra horisonter, ökar vår frihet och egenmakt« (party programme ↗)“Education broadens our horizons, increases our freedom and agency”
- free and safe digital sphere»Vi bejakar ett digitalt samhälle med ett starkt skydd för yttrande- och informationsfrihet« (party programme ↗)“We welcome a digital society with strong protection for freedom of expression and information”
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 requires that knowledge, creativity and critical thinking shall permeate the school and that curricula be revised with greater focus on facts and knowledge.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that knowledge, creativity and critical thinking shall permeate the school and that curricula be revised with greater focus on facts and knowledge. Strengthening the assignment in media and information literacy is a direct application of that commitment in a digital environment. The plan also establishes that the education system shall not be value-free but actively work for democracy.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att kunskap, kreativitet och kritiskt tänkande ska genomsyra skolan och att läroplanerna revideras med större fokus på fakta och kunskap. Att stärka uppdraget i medie- och informationskunnighet är en direkt tillämpning av det åtagandet i en digital miljö. Planen slår också fast att utbildningssystemet inte ska vara värderingsfritt utan aktivt verka för demokrati.
- critical thinking in schooldecisive»Kunskap, kreativitet och kritiskt tänkande ska genomsyra« (party programme ↗)“Knowledge, creativity and critical thinking shall permeate”
- curricula with knowledge focus»Läroplanerna ska revideras och få ett större fokus på fakta och kunskap.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Curricula shall be revised and given a greater focus on facts and knowledge.”
- school's democracy mission»Utbildningssystemet ska inte vara värderingsfritt.« (party programme ↗)“The education system shall not be value-free.”
- living educational tradition»Sverige har en stark bildningstradition som måste hållas levande.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden has a strong educational tradition that must be kept alive.”
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 states as school's first main task to stimulate students' knowledge development and critical thinking, and highlights critical rationalism as an ability to question and understand.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states as school's first main task to stimulate students' knowledge development and critical thinking, and highlights critical rationalism as an ability to question and understand. All students shall furthermore acquire knowledge in civic-oriented subjects to be able to exercise active citizenship. To strengthen media and information literacy in the curricula is an application of these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Planen anger som skolans första huvuduppgift att stimulera elevernas kunskapsutveckling och kritiska tänkande, och lyfter fram den kritiska rationalismen som en förmåga att ifrågasätta och förstå. Alla elever ska dessutom tillgodogöra sig kunskap i samhällsorienterande ämnen för att kunna utöva ett aktivt medborgarskap. Att stärka medie- och informationskunnigheten i läroplanerna är en tillämpning av dessa åtaganden.
- critical thinking in schooldecisive»kunskapsutveckling och kritiska tänkande« (party programme ↗)“knowledge development and critical thinking”
- critical rationalism»kritisk rationalism, vilket innebär en vilja att sätta sig in i olika frågor« (party programme ↗)“critical rationalism, which means a will to acquaint oneself with various issues”
- broad basic knowledge»kunskap i språk samt samhälls- och naturorienterande ämnen« (party programme ↗)“knowledge in language and civic and natural-science-oriented subjects”
- practical wisdom in education»begrepp som klokhet, rättvisa, solidaritet och civilkurage« (party programme ↗)“concepts such as wisdom, justice, solidarity and civic courage”
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's line for curricula is to focus on measurable factual knowledge and clear knowledge requirements, and it explicitly criticises vague goals and a vague understanding of knowledge.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's line for curricula is to focus on measurable factual knowledge and clear knowledge requirements, and it explicitly criticises vague goals and a vague understanding of knowledge. An expanded and broadly formulated mandate about media and information literacy in curricula and examination objectives pulls in the opposite direction. The plan does not specifically address source criticism, so the conclusion is derived from the understanding of knowledge.
Original (Swedish)
Planens linje för läroplanerna är att fokusera på mätbara faktakunskaper och tydliga kunskapskrav, och den kritiserar uttryckligen otydliga mål och en vag kunskapssyn. Ett utvidgat och brett formulerat uppdrag om medie- och informationskunnighet i läroplaner och examensmål drar åt motsatt håll. Planen behandlar inte källkritik särskilt, varför slutsatsen härleds ur kunskapssynen.
- measurable factual knowledgedecisive»• Fokusera på mätbara faktakunskaper, med inspiration från Finlands läroplan« (2022 manifesto ↗)“• Focus on measurable factual knowledge, inspired by Finland's curriculum”
- facts in curricula»Mätbara fakta i kurs- och läroplanerna.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Measurable facts in course and curricula”
- no to vague knowledge concepts»Idag slår otydliga mål, tidiga krav på abstrakta resonemang, och en vag kunskapssyn ut många helt i onödan.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Today, vague goals, early requirements for abstract reasoning, and a vague understanding of knowledge knock out many completely unnecessarily”
- clear knowledge requirements»Den svenska skolan ska ställa tydliga kunskapskrav« (party programme ↗)“Swedish schools should set clear knowledge requirements”
The plan requires that curricula be supplemented with clearer learning objectives and that schools convey independent thinking and the ability to form one's own opinion.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that curricula be supplemented with clearer learning objectives and that schools convey independent thinking and the ability to form one's own opinion. The counter-proposal's demand for strengthened assignment in media and information literacy is such a knowledge specification and serves the plan's goal of free and value-independent opinion formation in a digital environment. The plan does not explicitly address source criticism in curricula, which is why the conclusion is uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att läroplanerna kompletteras med tydligare kunskapsmål och att skolan förmedlar eget tänkande och förmågan att bilda sig en egen uppfattning. Motförslagets krav på ett stärkt uppdrag i medie- och informationskunnighet är en sådan kunskapsprecisering och tjänar planens mål om fri och värdeoberoende åsiktsbildning i en digital miljö. Planen behandlar inte källkritik i läroplanen uttryckligen, varför slutsatsen är osäker.
- clearer learning objectivesdecisive»Läroplaner ska kompletteras med tydligare kunskapsmål.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Curricula shall be supplemented with clearer learning objectives.”
- free opinion formation»Stärka möjligheten till fri och värdeoberoende åsiktsbildning« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen the possibility of free and value-independent opinion formation.”
- independent thinking without indoctrination»Förskolan ska vara fri från politiska ställningstaganden och indoktrinering och ska verka för att barnen lär sig vikten av demokrati, eget tänkande och att få bilda sig sin egen uppfattning.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Preschool shall be free from political positioning and indoctrination and shall work for children to learn the importance of democracy, independent thinking and to form their own opinion.”
- information freedom as foundation»Yttrande-, åsikts- och informationsfriheterna är tre av demokratins grundpelare.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Freedom of expression, opinion and information are three of democracy's foundations.”
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 (2025/26:UbU8)
- Committee report full text (HD01UbU8)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2025/26:1057 — Stärkt religionsfrihet av Jamal El-Haj (-)
- Motion 2025/26:109 — Införande av svenskt kulturarv och hembygdskunskap i läroplanen av Björn Tidland (SD)
- Motion 2025/26:1114 — Föreningskunskap i skolan av Anne-Li Sjölund (C)
- Motion 2025/26:1138 — Ungdomsråd av Martina Johansson (C)
- Motion 2025/26:1189 — Värnande av skolavslutningar av Viktor Wärnick (M)
- Motion 2025/26:1203 — Idrott och hälsa i grundskolan av Ulrika Heindorff (M)
- Motion 2025/26:1264 — Modersmålsundervisningen av Louise Thunström m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2025/26:1297 — Intresset för det tyska språket av Sten Bergheden (M)
- Motion 2025/26:1334 — Skandinavisk språkförståelse av Runar Filper (SD)
- Motion 2025/26:1335 — Värnande om de svenska folkmålen av Runar Filper (SD)
- Motion 2025/26:1336 — Morgonsamling av Runar Filper (SD)
- Motion 2025/26:1501 — Åtgärder mot populism, desinformation och mediekoncentration för att stärka demokratin av Jamal El-Haj (-)
- Motion 2025/26:1520 — Utvärdering och förtydligande av religionsfrihetens gränser för att motverka normkollisioner och värna det öppna samhället av Emma Ahlström Köster (M)
- Motion 2025/26:1550 — Godkända betyg i kärnämnena av Mona Olin (SD)
- Motion 2025/26:1578 — Islams ökande inflytande i skolan av Nima Gholam Ali Pour (SD)
- Motion 2025/26:1632 — Nationell kursplan för modersmålsundervisning i svenskt teckenspråk av Jessica Rodén (S)
- Motion 2025/26:1675 — Inför totalförsvarskunskap redan i grundskolan av Katarina Tolgfors m.fl. (M)
- Motion 2025/26:169 — Arabiskans betydelse i världen och Sverige av Jamal El-Haj (-)
- Motion 2025/26:1699 — Nationell sammanhållning och gemenskap av Staffan Eklöf (SD)
- Motion 2025/26:1800 — Krafttag mot antisemitism av Magnus Jacobsson (KD)
Source: The Swedish Parliament