2023-05-312022/23:KrU10 · p.2KrUCulture
The role of popular education
The role and funding of folk education
What's at stake: Folk education, carried by folk high schools and study associations across the country, rests on voluntary participation and, according to the motions, has been hit hard by the pandemic and uncertain funding; the question is whether the Riksdag should push for a strengthened role and funding or rely on ongoing processes.
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 Riksdag should make specific statements calling for strengthening folk education's role and funding, for example folk high schools' independence and the state grants to them, or whether this should be regarded as sufficiently addressed through ongoing work, without new formal calls on the government.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee notes that folk education is built on independence and individually tailored pedagogy and considers, referring among other things to ongoing review work, that the motions on the role of folk education are already partly addressed, and therefore rejects them.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 1 (S)
The reservation argues that folk education faces major challenges, not least around funding after the pandemic, and that the Riksdag should affirm that folk education's role must be safeguarded and strengthened, that the number of places should keep growing, and that investment should go into folk-high-school teachers and pedagogy as well as study associations' activity nationwide.
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.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
The decision would have gone the other way
Explicit commitments that contradicted the vote: LLiberalerna, MPMiljöpartiet, VVänsterpartiet
Ja 190–94Nej 141–143
Counterfactual: the parties above are moved to the position their own documents explicitly point at, carrying their whole contingent present. Every other party keeps its real figures, including dissenters and absentees.
How the AI parties would have voted
For each party: what its own plan – election manifesto and party programme – argues for in this case, next to how the party actually voted. The AI can only answer Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| AI | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Yes 20/0/0/4 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| S | No | No 0/94/0/13 | match | confidence: high | explicit |
| MP | No | Yes 16/0/0/2 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| C | No | Abstain 1/0/19/4 | differs | confidence: high | explicit |
| L | No | Yes 13/0/0/3 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: medium | explicit |
| KD | No | Yes 17/0/0/2 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
| M | Yes | Yes 60/0/0/8 | match | confidence: low | not addressed |
| SD | Yes | Yes 62/0/0/10 | match | confidence: low | not addressed |
Broke with the party line
| CNiels Paarup-Petersen (C, Malmö kommun) | Yes — party line: Abstain |
MPs whose vote differs from their party's majority position in this division. Marked with a dark ring in the chamber view.
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2022/23:271 by Hanna Westerén (S), 2022/23:677 by Johanna Haraldsson et al. (S) motions 1 and 2, 2022/23:860 by Anne-Li Sjölund et al. (C) motion 7, and 2022/23:861 by Catarina Deremar et al. (C) motion 12.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2022/23:271 av Hanna Westerén (S), 2022/23:677 av Johanna Haraldsson m.fl. (S) yrkandena 1 och 2, 2022/23:860 av Anne-Li Sjölund m.fl. (C) yrkande 7 och 2022/23:861 av Catarina Deremar m.fl. (C) yrkande 12.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag has considered a communication from the government concerning the National Audit Office's report on government subsidies to study associations. The National Audit Office has audited whether the control, monitoring, and management of subsidies to study associations is effective. The subjects of the audit are the government and the National Board for Adult Education (Folkbildningsrådet), the agency that distributes subsidies to, for example, study associations. The National Audit Office's assessment is that the monitoring and control of the subsidies needs to be significantly strengthened, and that there are significant challenges with the current management model which is based on stakeholders auditing themselves. A government investigation is underway, a so-called committee directive (kommittédirektiv), of among other things the current management model, which shall be submitted by February 19, 2024 at the latest. The National Audit Office assesses that the direction and scope of the investigation is necessary, but considers that measures to strengthen control are already needed now. Among other things, the National Audit Office recommends to the government to ensure that the National Board for Adult Education's administrative role in the control and monitoring of subsidies is clarified and strengthened. The Riksdag filed the communication with the records, that is, concluded the matter. The Riksdag also said no to 17 proposals in motions on further education issues that were submitted during the general motion period 2022.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants folk education to be strengthened through increased educational places, improved teacher training, and valued development of study associations across the country. (S) — 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 election manifesto asserts that it is particularly important to invest in and develop folk education, that folk high schools and adult education are needed throughout the country and that study associations' position should be protected.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto asserts that it is particularly important to invest in and develop folk education, that folk high schools and adult education are needed throughout the country and that study associations' position should be protected. The party programme wants to expand the number of places in folk high schools and adult education. The counter-proposal's demands that folk education's role be protected and strengthened with more places, investments in folk high school pedagogy and support to study associations throughout the country are precisely these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet slår fast att det är särskilt viktigt att satsa på och utveckla folkbildningen, att folkhögskolor och Komvux behövs i hela landet och att studieförbundens ställning ska värnas. Partiprogrammet vill utöka antalet platser inom folkhögskola och vuxenutbildning. Motförslagets krav på att folkbildningens roll värnas och stärks med fler platser, satsningar på folkhögskolepedagogik och stöd till studieförbunden i hela landet är just dessa åtaganden.
- invest in folk educationdecisive»Därför är det särskilt viktigt att satsa på och utveckla folkbiblioteken, folkbildningen och public services oberoende ställning.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Therefore it is particularly important to invest in and develop public libraries, folk education and public services' independent position.”
- folk high school throughout the country»Folkhögskolor och Komvux behövs i hela landet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Folk high schools and adult education are needed throughout the country.”
- protect study associations»Därför behöver vi också värna studieförbundens ställning.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Therefore we also need to protect study associations' position.”
- more educational places»Vänsterpartiet vill se en utökning av antalet platser inom såväl« (party programme ↗)“The Left Party wants to see an expansion of the number of places in both”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The plan establishes that folk education provides strong democracy and opportunities for personal development alongside formal education, and the programme gives idea-based education a central role in the knowledge society.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that folk education provides strong democracy and opportunities for personal development alongside formal education, and the programme gives idea-based education a central role in the knowledge society. That folk education's role is valued and strengthened with more places, investments in folk high school pedagogy and support to study circles across the country is the same commitment. The plan also requires that all adults have the opportunity for further education and sees civil society as the foundation of democracy. The plan supports the demand.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att folkbildningen ger stark demokrati och möjligheter till personlig utveckling vid sidan av den formella utbildningen, och programmet ger den idéburna bildningen en central roll i kunskapssamhället. Att folkbildningens roll värnas och stärks med fler platser, satsningar på folkhögskolepedagogik och stöd till studieförbunden i hela landet är samma åtagande. Planen kräver också att alla vuxna har möjlighet till fortbildning och ser civilsamhället som demokratins underbyggnad. Planen stöder kravet.
- value of folk educationdecisive»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.”
- education and learning»Socialdemokratin vill skapa ett verkligt kunskapssamhälle, byggt på både bildning och« (party programme ↗)“Social democracy wants to create a genuine knowledge society, built on both education and”
- adults' right to education»Alla vuxna, inom alla delar av arbetslivet, ska ha möjlighet till fort- och« (party programme ↗)“All adults, in all parts of working life, shall have the opportunity for further and”
- civil society bears democracy»Ett starkt och levande civilsamhälle är demokratins underbyggnad.« (party programme ↗)“A strong and living civil society is the foundation of democracy.”
The party programme establishes that the party believes in popular education and lifelong learning, that folk high schools and study associations' educational forms are important, and that more folk high schools are needed, not least in million-programme areas.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme establishes that the party believes in popular education and lifelong learning, that folk high schools and study associations' educational forms are important, and that more folk high schools are needed, not least in million-programme areas. The counter-proposal's requirement that popular education's role be valued and strengthened with more places and support across the country thereby lies in the plan's line.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att partiet tror på folkbildningen och det livslånga lärandet, att folkhögskolor och studieförbundens utbildningsformer är viktiga och att det behövs fler folkhögskolor, inte minst i miljonprogrammets områden. Motförslagets krav att folkbildningens roll värnas och stärks med fler platser och stöd i hela landet ligger därmed i planens linje.
- the value of popular educationdecisive»Vi tror på folkbildningen och det livslånga lärandet.« (party programme ↗)“We believe in popular education and lifelong learning.”
- study associations are important»frivilliga utbildningsformer, som de studieförbunden erbjuder, är viktiga« (party programme ↗)“voluntary educational forms, such as those offered by study associations, are important”
- more folk high schools»av nya folkhögskolor i Sverige, inte minst i miljonprogrammets områden.« (party programme ↗)“of new folk high schools in Sweden, not least in million-programme areas.”
- education across the country»Byskolor, folkhögskolor, regionala högskolor och« (party programme ↗)“Countryside schools, folk high schools, regional universities and”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The election manifesto states that an independent civic education has very great significance in times when democratic values are questioned, and that education from preschool to lifelong civic education is a bearing part of the democratic project.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto states that an independent civic education has very great significance in times when democratic values are questioned, and that education from preschool to lifelong civic education is a bearing part of the democratic project. The counter-proposal wants to cherish and strengthen civic education's role with more places and support for study associations' activities throughout the country. Civil society's voluntary organisation is according to the party programme a fundamental part of democracy.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet slår fast att en fristående folkbildning har mycket stor betydelse i tider då demokratiska värden ifrågasätts, och att bildningen från förskola till livslång folkbildning är en bärande del av det demokratiska projektet. Motförslaget vill just värna och stärka folkbildningens roll med fler platser och stöd till studieförbundens verksamhet i hela landet. Civilsamhällets frivilliga organisering är enligt partiprogrammet en fundamental del av demokratin.
- independent civic educationdecisive»En fristående folkbildning har mycket stor betydelse i tider då demokratiska värden ifrågasätts.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“An independent civic education has very great significance in times when democratic values are questioned.”
- education bears democracy»Även bildning i bred mening, från förskolan till universiteten till den livslånga folkbildningen, är en bärande del av det demokratiska projektet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Education in a broader sense, from preschool to universities to lifelong civic education, is a bearing part of the democratic project.”
- civil society's role»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.”
- pathways to retraining»För den som förlorat arbetet, eller vill byta inriktning senare i livet, måste studiesystemet erbjuda möjligheter« (party programme ↗)“For those who have lost work, or want to change direction later in life, the education system must offer opportunities”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The plan establishes that folk education contributes to raised knowledge levels, that folk high schools and study associations are important educational forms and that independent folk education shall have good and long-term conditions.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that folk education contributes to raised knowledge levels, that folk high schools and study associations are important educational forms and that independent folk education shall have good and long-term conditions. The counter-proposal's demand that folk education's role is valued and strengthened, with financing throughout the country, is thus directly in line with the plan. Liberals shall according to the plan explicitly support free folk education.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att folkbildningen bidrar till höjd kunskapsnivå, att folkhögskolan och studieförbunden är viktiga utbildningsformer och att den fristående folkbildningen ska ha goda och långsiktiga villkor. Motförslagets krav på att folkbildningens roll värnas och stärks, med finansiering i hela landet, är därmed direkt planenligt. Liberaler ska enligt planen uttryckligen stödja den fria folkbildningen.
- long-term conditions for folk educationdecisive»kompletteras med goda och långsiktiga villkor för den fristående folkbildningen.« (party programme ↗)“complemented with good and long-term conditions for independent folk education.”
- folk high schools and study associations»Såväl folkhögskolan som studieförbunden är viktiga utbildningsformer som breddar människors möjligheter att lära nytt hela livet.« (party programme ↗)“Both folk high schools and study associations are important educational forms that broaden people's opportunities to learn new things throughout life.”
- support for free folk education»Därför värnar liberaler bildningstanken, främjar bildningsresor och stödjer den fria folkbildningen.« (party programme ↗)“Therefore liberals value the educational mission, promote educational journeys and support free folk education.”
- folk education raises knowledge levels»Folkbildningen bidrar till höjd kunskapsnivå i samhället.« (party programme ↗)“Folk education contributes to raised knowledge levels in society.”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The plan establishes that public adult education plays an indispensable role for democracy and that its mandate is unique and important for people's opportunities for development and new knowledge throughout life.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that public adult education plays an indispensable role for democracy and that its mandate is unique and important for people's opportunities for development and new knowledge throughout life. Folk high schools shall be given freedom and opportunities to develop on their own terms. Establishing that public adult education's role shall be valued and strengthened, with more education places and support to study associations throughout the country, follows from these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att folkbildningen spelar en omistlig roll för demokratin och att dess uppdrag är unikt och viktigt för människors möjligheter till utveckling och ny kunskap hela livet. Folkhögskolorna ska ges frihet och möjligheter att utvecklas på egna villkor. Att slå fast att folkbildningens roll ska värnas och stärkas, med fler utbildningsplatser och stöd till studieförbunden i hela landet, följer av dessa åtaganden.
- public adult education indispensable for democracydecisive»Ett rikt kulturliv vitaliserar även demokratin. I detta sammanhang spelar folkbildningen en omistlig roll.« (party programme ↗)“A rich cultural life also vitalizes democracy. In this connection public adult education plays an indispensable role.”
- public adult education's mandate»Folkbildningens unika och viktiga uppdrag bidrar till människors möjligheter till utveckling och ny« (party programme ↗)“Public adult education's unique and important mandate contributes to people's opportunities for development and new”
- folk high schools' freedom»måste ges frihet och möjligheter att utvecklas på egna« (party programme ↗)“must be given freedom and opportunities to develop on their own”
- 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 plan does not address popular education financing or study associations.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan does not address popular education financing or study associations. The nearest principle is that politics must prioritize and choose to forgo, that the state should act with caution outside its basic mission and that the great needs within the justice system, defence and welfare require hard priorities. New state commitments and more places in popular education therefore receive no support, but the conclusion is uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Planen behandlar inte folkbildningens finansiering eller studieförbunden. Närmast liggande princip är att politiken måste prioritera och välja bort, att staten ska agera med försiktighet utanför sitt grunduppdrag och att de stora behoven inom rättsväsende, försvar och välfärd kräver hårda prioriteringar. Nya statliga åtaganden och fler platser inom folkbildningen får därför inget stöd, men slutsatsen är osäker.
- prioritize and choose to forgodecisive»Politiken har en viktig uppgift att prioritera och välja bort,« (party programme ↗)“Politics has an important task to prioritize and choose to forgo,”
- caution outside the core»och agerar med försiktighet på andra områden.« (party programme ↗)“and acts with caution on other areas.”
- hard priorities»De stora behoven inom rättsväsendet, försvaret och välfärden ställer stora krav på prioriteringar under åren som kommer.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The great needs within the justice system, defence and welfare place great demands on prioritization in the years ahead.”
The counter-proposal requires increased funding for adult education with more educational places and support for study organizations.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal requires increased funding for adult education with more educational places and support for study organizations. The election manifesto wants to concentrate public spending on the heart of welfare, demand clear citizen benefit for each investment and scale away unnecessary expenses, which speaks against a general increased appropriation. The party programme's positive view of the voluntary sector points in the other direction, so the assessment is uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget kräver utökad finansiering av folkbildningen med fler utbildningsplatser och stöd till studieförbunden. Valmanifestet vill koncentrera de offentliga utgifterna till välfärdens hjärta, begära tydlig medborgarnytta för varje satsning och skala bort onödiga utgifter, vilket talar mot ett generellt utökat anslag. Partiprogrammets positiva syn på den ideella sektorn drar i andra riktningen, varför bedömningen är osäker.
- spending on welfare's heartdecisive»Sverigedemokraterna vill koncentrera de offentliga utgifterna till välfärdens hjärta och begära tydlig medborgarnytta för alla satsningar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden Democrats want to concentrate public spending on the heart of welfare and demand clear citizen benefit for all investments.”
- results requirements on investments»Begära tydliga resultat för varje offentlig satsning« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Demand clear results for every public investment”
- away with unnecessary expenses»Skala bort onödiga utgifter i det offentliga« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Scale away unnecessary public expenses”
- support the voluntary sector»statens och kommunernas primära uppgift i att lyfta fram och« (party programme ↗)“the state's and municipalities' primary role in lifting up and”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2022/23:KrU10)
- Committee report full text (HA01KrU10)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2022/23:1075 — Folkbildningsrådet av Ann-Sofie Alm (M)
- Motion 2022/23:2144 — Satsningar på Stockholms skärgård av Markus Wiechel m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:220 — Demokratiutvecklingspengar till föreningsrörelsen av Mikael Larsson (C)
- Motion 2022/23:271 — Stärkning av folkbildningen av Hanna Westerén (S)
- Motion 2022/23:677 — Folkhögskolornas framtid av Johanna Haraldsson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:796 — Upphörande av bidrag till islamistiska Muslimska brödraskapets underorganisationer av Björn Söder (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:860 — Ett idrottsliv, friluftsliv och civilsamhälle tillgängligt för alla av Anne-Li Sjölund m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:861 — Ett fritt och brett kulturliv i hela landet av Catarina Deremar m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:863 — Rättspolitik av Ulrika Liljeberg m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:974 — Folkbildningsfrågor av Jonas Andersson m.fl. (SD)
- Regeringens skrivelse 2022/23:50 — Riksrevisionens rapport om statsbidraget till studieförbunden
Source: The Swedish Parliament