2023-12-192023/24:UbU6 · p.2UbUEducation
Questions regarding the right to educational materials etc.
Pupils' and students' right to study materials under the new Education Act
What's at stake: The decision determines whether there will be a uniform, statutory right to study materials for all forms of schooling without extra targeted measures, or whether municipal adult education and sfi receive dedicated additional support. It therefore affects both students' access to materials and municipalities' costs of providing them.
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 the Education Act's new, general provisions on pupils' right to textbooks, study materials and tools are sufficient to meet the various motions on the subject, or whether the government should additionally take specific action and provide funding to strengthen access to materials in municipal adult education.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee rejects the motions on this point. Several motions (including on definitions of study materials and tools) are judged to be substantively met by the bill's new, shared provisions on pupils' right to textbooks, other materials and tools needed for good learning, and the committee also sees no reason to proceed with separate parliamentary statements on either strengthened access within municipal adult education or an inquiry into relevant printed materials.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 1 (S, MP)
The reservation (S, MP) argues that the government, in its impact assessment, states that the proposals do not raise the level of ambition and therefore do not trigger the municipal financing principle, which the reservers say shows that the government is neglecting municipal adult education, including sfi - the state grant available for study materials only covers preschool class through upper-secondary school, not adult education. The reservers therefore want the government to come back with measures that also strengthen access to materials within municipal adult education.
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, 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 0/0/20/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | No 0/93/0/14 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | No 0/16/0/2 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | Yes 20/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 14/0/0/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| KD | No | Yes 16/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 59/0/0/9 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 61/0/0/11 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2023/24:1930 by Mattias Jonsson and Amalia Rud Pedersen (both S), 2023/24:2451 by Camilla Hansén et al. (MP) amendments 14 and 15, 2023/24:2482 by Muharrem Demirok et al. (C) amendment 8, 2023/24:2687 by Åsa Westlund et al. (S) amendments 29 and 31.1, 2023/24:2753 by Daniel Riazat et al. (V) amendment 2 and 2023/24:2755 by Åsa Westlund et al. (S) amendment 3.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2023/24:1930 av Mattias Jonsson och Amalia Rud Pedersen (båda S), 2023/24:2451 av Camilla Hansén m.fl. (MP) yrkandena 14 och 15, 2023/24:2482 av Muharrem Demirok m.fl. (C) yrkande 8, 2023/24:2687 av Åsa Westlund m.fl. (S) yrkandena 29 och 31.1, 2023/24:2753 av Daniel Riazat m.fl. (V) yrkande 2 och 2023/24:2755 av Åsa Westlund m.fl. (S) yrkande 3.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag approved the government's proposal for amendments to the Education Act. The amendments aim to strengthen students' access to appropriate educational materials. The provisions regulating what students should have access to in education in preschool class, primary school, adapted primary school, special school, Sami school, upper secondary school and adapted upper secondary school are clarified. It should be stated in the provisions that students shall have free access to textbooks, other educational materials and other teaching tools that are needed for good knowledge development in accordance with the goals of education. Furthermore, the Education Act is supplemented with definitions of the concepts textbook, educational materials and teaching tools. Also in the provisions regarding the various forms of education within municipal adult education (komvux) it should be clear that students shall have access to textbooks, other educational materials and other teaching tools that are needed for good knowledge development in accordance with the goals of education. The legislative amendments come into force on 1 July 2024.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to strengthen access to teaching materials and teacher guides in adult education and education for newly arrived immigrants. (S, MP) — 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 demands that municipal adult education (Komvux) and folk high schools exist across the country, that more places in adult education are added and that it should become easier to study regardless of one's own finances.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan demands that municipal adult education (Komvux) and folk high schools exist across the country, that more places in adult education are added and that it should become easier to study regardless of one's own finances. Also strengthening the supply of teaching materials within municipal adult education, which today falls outside state grants, follows from these commitments. The plan says nothing about the committee's argument that the new common provisions are sufficient.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att Komvux och folkhögskolor finns i hela landet, att fler platser inom vuxenutbildningen tillkommer och att det ska bli lättare att utbilda sig oavsett den egna ekonomin. Att också stärka läromedelstillgången inom den kommunala vuxenutbildningen, som i dag hamnar utanför statsbidraget, följer av dessa åtaganden. Planen säger inget om utskottets skäl att de nya gemensamma bestämmelserna räcker.
- municipal adult education across the countrydecisive»Folkhögskolor och Komvux behövs i hela landet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Folk high schools and municipal adult education (Komvux) are needed across the country.”
- education regardless of finances»Det måste bli lättare att utbilda sig efter grundskolan oavsett vem du är, tjockleken på din plånbok eller var i landet du bor.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It must become easier to pursue education after compulsory school regardless of who you are, the size of your wallet or where in the country you live.”
- more places in adult education»Vänsterpartiet vill se en utökning av antalet platser inom såväl« (party programme ↗)“The Left Party wants to see an increase in the number of places in both”
- right to adult education»Möjligheten att i vuxen ålder kunna vidareutbilda eller omskola« (party programme ↗)“The opportunity to pursue further education or retraining as an adult”
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 learning to be lifelong and accessible to all on equivalent terms, with special attention to those with short basic education, and that education in public sector shall be free of charge.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants learning to be lifelong and accessible to all on equivalent terms, with special attention to those with short basic education, and that education in public sector shall be free of charge. That government grants for teaching materials exclude municipal adult education contravenes this equivalence, why the plan supports measures that strengthen teaching material access also within komvux and sfi. The committee's reasons about new common provisions are not affected by the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill att lärandet ska vara livslångt och tillgängligt för alla på likvärdiga villkor, med särskild uppmärksamhet på dem som har kort grundutbildning, och att utbildning i samhällelig regi ska vara avgiftsfri. Att statsbidraget för läromedel utesluter den kommunala vuxenutbildningen strider mot denna likvärdighet, varför planen stöder åtgärder som stärker läromedelstillgången även inom komvux och sfi. Utskottets skäl om nya gemensamma bestämmelser berörs inte av planen.
- lifelong learningdecisive»Lärandet blir en livslång process« (party programme ↗)“Learning becomes a lifelong process”
- prioritise those with short education»Särskild uppmärksamhet ska ägnas de med kort grundutbildning.« (party programme ↗)“Special attention shall be given to those with short basic education.”
- free education»ska vara avgiftsfria liksom högskoleutbildning i samhällelig regi« (party programme ↗)“shall be free of charge like higher education in public sector”
- state responsibility for education pathways»Staten har ett ansvar för att säkra kompetensförsörjningen, inte minst i välfärden.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The state has a responsibility to ensure skills supply, not least in welfare.”
The plan requires that all who need it be offered high-quality Swedish language teaching and wants to strengthen the establishment of foreign-born women through SFI (Swedish for immigrants) combined with practical work and vocational training, with adult education (komvux) as a central pathway to lifelong learning.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that all who need it be offered high-quality Swedish language teaching and wants to strengthen the establishment of foreign-born women through SFI (Swedish for immigrants) combined with practical work and vocational training, with adult education (komvux) as a central pathway to lifelong learning. If adult education and SFI are left out of teaching materials efforts, that undermines the quality of that instruction. Measures that strengthen teaching materials provision within komvux are therefore supported.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att alla som behöver erbjuds högkvalitativ svenskundervisning och vill stärka utrikesfödda kvinnors etablering genom sfi kombinerad med praktik och yrkesutbildning, med komvux som en central väg till livslångt lärande. Om vuxenutbildningen och sfi lämnas utanför läromedelssatsningar undergrävs just den undervisningens kvalitet. Åtgärder som stärker läromedelstillgången inom komvux stöds därför.
- high-quality Swedish language teachingdecisive»Alla som behöver ska erbjudas en högkvalitativ« (party programme ↗)“All who need it shall be offered high-quality”
- strengthened SFI and establishment»stärk utrikesfödda kvinnors etablering genom SFI kombinerad med praktik och yrkesutbildning och jämställda insatser från arbetsförmedlingen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“strengthen the establishment of foreign-born women through SFI combined with practical work and vocational training and equal efforts from the employment agency.”
- komvux as pathway to learning»skolan är bra. Komvux, folkhögskolor och andra« (party programme ↗)“schools are good. Komvux, folk high schools and other”
- free education»avgiftsfri för alla studenter.« (party programme ↗)“free of charge for all students.”
The plan states that everyone who wants should be able to educate themselves throughout life and that few investments are as valuable as those in education, which argues for ensuring reading materials even within adult education and Swedish for immigrants.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that everyone who wants should be able to educate themselves throughout life and that few investments are as valuable as those in education, which argues for ensuring reading materials even within adult education and Swedish for immigrants. The plan counts the opportunity to further educate oneself and learn Swedish as a prerequisite for jobs and integration. The plan therefore supports the counter-proposal's requirement in substance.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att alla som vill ska kunna utbilda sig genom hela livet och att få investeringar är lika värdefulla som de i utbildning, vilket talar för att läromedelstillgången också inom komvux och sfi säkras. Planen räknar möjligheten att vidareutbilda sig och lära sig svenska som en förutsättning för jobb och integration. Planen stöder därför motförslagets krav i sak.
- lifelong learningdecisive»Alla som vill ska ha möjlighet att utbilda sig genom hela livet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Everyone who wants should have the opportunity to educate themselves throughout their lives.”
- opportunity to further education»För dem som har en del kvar att lära sig ska det finnas goda möjligheter att praktisera, lära sig svenska på jobbet eller vidareutbilda sig.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“For those who have some more to learn should there be good opportunities to practice, learn Swedish on the job or further educate themselves.”
- education as investment»Få investeringar är lika viktiga och värdefulla för samhället som de vi gör i utbildning.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Few investments are as important and valuable for society as those we make in education.”
- learning enriches»Möjligheten till bildning och ett livslångt lärande är berikande både för individen och« (party programme ↗)“Opportunity for education and lifelong learning is enriching for both the individual and”
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 a major initiative on teaching materials and that adult education functions well and is open for those who need to supplement their knowledge.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires a major initiative on teaching materials and that adult education functions well and is open for those who need to supplement their knowledge. That the state funding for teaching materials stops at upper secondary school leaves adult education and Swedish for immigrants outside an initiative the plan wants to see. Since work and knowledge of Swedish are the plan's most important integration tools, the commitment also bears the availability of teaching materials within Swedish for immigrants.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver en storsatsning på läromedel och att vuxenutbildningen fungerar väl och är öppen för den som behöver komplettera sina kunskaper. Att statsbidraget för läromedel stannar vid gymnasiet lämnar då komvux och sfi utanför en satsning planen vill se. Eftersom arbete och kunskaper i svenska är planens viktigaste integrationsverktyg bär åtagandet också läromedelstillgången inom sfi.
- major initiative on teaching materialsdecisive»En storsatsning på läromedel måste göras så att eleverna får riktiga skolböcker och landets lärare slipper stå och kopiera.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“A major initiative on teaching materials must be made so that students receive real textbooks and the country's teachers do not have to stand and copy.”
- functioning adult education»en väl fungerande och flexibel kommunal vuxenutbildning« (party programme ↗)“a well-functioning and flexible municipal adult education”
- right to supplement knowledge»Den som saknar fullständig grundskole- eller gymnasieutbildning ska ha rätt att när som helst« (party programme ↗)“Those who lack complete lower secondary or upper secondary education shall have the right to at any time”
- Swedish as key to society»Arbete och kunskaper i svenska språket är viktigast« (party programme ↗)“Work and knowledge of the Swedish language are most important”
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 well-developed adult education and makes skills in Swedish a key to integration, which speaks for measures that strengthen access to teaching materials also in komvux (a municipal adult education system) and sfi (Swedish for immigrants).
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires well-developed adult education and makes skills in Swedish a key to integration, which speaks for measures that strengthen access to teaching materials also in komvux (a municipal adult education system) and sfi (Swedish for immigrants). That the state grant stops at upper secondary school leaves adult education without corresponding support. The plan also states that the financing principle shall be respected when the state assigns tasks to municipalities.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver en väl utbyggd vuxenutbildning och gör kunskaper i svenska till en nyckel till integration, vilket talar för åtgärder som stärker läromedelstillgången även inom komvux och sfi. Att statsbidraget stannar vid gymnasiet lämnar vuxenutbildningen utan motsvarande stöd. Planen slår också fast att finansieringsprincipen ska respekteras när staten ålägger kommunerna uppgifter.
- developed adult educationdecisive»Det innebär att vuxenutbildningen ska vara väl utbyggd.« (party programme ↗)“This means that adult education shall be well-developed.”
- language as an integration key»Jobb, kunskap i svenska språket och det civila samhället är viktiga nycklar till integration.« (party programme ↗)“Work, knowledge of the Swedish language and civil society are important keys to integration.”
- the financing principle»Finansieringsprincipen måste respekteras när staten ålägger kommunerna nya uppgifter.« (party programme ↗)“The financing principle must be respected when the state assigns new tasks to municipalities.”
- instruction in Swedish»Invandrare ska garanteras goda möjligheter till« (party programme ↗)“Immigrants must be guaranteed good opportunities for”
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 makes the Swedish language the key to work, wants to make SFI (Swedish for Immigrants) more efficient and simultaneously sets higher demands that the knowledge goals are achieved.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan makes the Swedish language the key to work, wants to make SFI (Swedish for Immigrants) more efficient and simultaneously sets higher demands that the knowledge goals are achieved. If the demands are to be reasonable, teaching materials must also exist, which speaks for measures that strengthen teaching materials supply within municipal adult education and SFI. The plan does not address the allocation of government grants, so support is derived from these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Planen gör svenska språket till nyckeln till arbete, vill göra SFI effektivare och ställer samtidigt högre krav på att kunskapsmålen nås. Om kraven ska vara rimliga måste också läromedlen finnas, vilket talar för åtgärder som stärker läromedelstillgången inom den kommunala vuxenutbildningen och sfi. Planen behandlar inte statsbidragets avgränsning, varför stödet är härlett ur dessa åtaganden.
- more efficient SFIdecisive»En förutsättning för att kunna få ett arbete är ofta att man kan tala begriplig svenska. Moderaterna vill därför göra SFI effektivare.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“A prerequisite for being able to get a job is often that one can speak understandable Swedish. The Moderates therefore want to make SFI more efficient.”
- demands on knowledge goals in SFI»Ställa högre krav på den som deltar i SFIundervisning – om individuella kunskapsmål inte uppnås ska bidragen kunna minska« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Set higher demands on those participating in SFI teaching - if individual knowledge goals are not met, benefits can be reduced”
- relevant adult education»De gymnasiala yrkesutbildningarna och vuxenutbildningarna i Sverige måste få ett innehåll som är relevant och eftertraktat.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The vocational upper secondary programmes and adult education in Sweden must have content that is relevant and sought after.”
- education throughout life»Sverige ska ha ett utbildningssystem och en arbetsmarknad« (party programme ↗)“Sweden shall have an education system and a labour market”
flags: citat_migrerat
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 counter-proposal calls for measures that strengthen the availability of teaching materials also in municipal adult education and points out that the municipal financing principle is not triggered.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal calls for measures that strengthen the availability of teaching materials also in municipal adult education and points out that the municipal financing principle is not triggered. The plan states that the municipal financing principle is fundamental and that the state should never place cost-driving commitments on municipalities without full compensation. The plan also wants to expand educational efforts at all levels so that everyone has the foundation for a demanded profession, which derivatively supports the demand.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget efterlyser åtgärder som stärker läromedelstillgången även inom den kommunala vuxenutbildningen och pekar på att den kommunala finansieringsprincipen inte utlöses. Planen slår fast att den kommunala finansieringsprincipen är grundläggande och att staten aldrig bör lägga kostnadsdrivande åtaganden på kommunerna utan full kompensation. Planen vill dessutom utöka utbildningsinsatser på alla nivåer så att alla får grunden till ett efterfrågat yrke, vilket härlett stöder kravet.
- municipal financing principledecisive»Den kommunala finansieringsprincipen är grundläggande för de ekonomiska« (party programme ↗)“The municipal financing principle is fundamental for the economic”
- full compensation to municipalities»kostnadsdrivande åtaganden för kommunerna utan att fullt ut kompensera dem för« (party programme ↗)“cost-driving commitments for municipalities without fully compensating them for”
- education at all levels»Utbildningsinsatser ska utökas på alla nivåer och genom att införa lärlingsanställningar där deltagarna kombinerar praktik, arbete och studier.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Educational efforts shall be expanded at all levels and by introducing apprenticeships where participants combine practice, work and studies.”
- professional foundation for all»Ge alla grunden till ett yrke som efterfrågas på arbetsmarknaden« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Give everyone the foundation for a profession in demand on the labour market”
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 (2023/24:UbU6)
- Committee report full text (HB01UbU6)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2023/24:1930 — En jämlik skola av Mattias Jonsson och Amalia Rud Pedersen (båda S)
- Motion 2023/24:2451 — Utbildning och forskning för ett hållbart samhälle av Camilla Hansén m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:2482 — En skola för livsresor av Muharrem Demirok m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2023/24:2687 — Utgiftsområde 16 Utbildning och universitetsforskning av Åsa Westlund m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:2753 — med anledning av prop. 2023/24:21 Stärkt tillgång till läromedel av Daniel Riazat m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2023/24:2755 — med anledning av prop. 2023/24:21 Stärkt tillgång till läromedel av Åsa Westlund m.fl. (S)
- Proposition 2023/24:21 — Stärkt tillgång till läromedel
Source: The Swedish Parliament