The new Education Act - for knowledge, choice and security
Why a new Education Act?
The Education Act is one of Sweden's most extensive laws and has not been modernised since 1985. The amendments proposed by the Government in the new Education Act aim to reflect the conditions existing in the modern schools of today.
The Education Act is one of Sweden's most extensive Acts, covering all education from pre-school to adult education. The current Education Act of 1985 has become out of date and does not reflect actual conditions in the school sector, above all as regards the position of independent schools. The legislation has accordingly undergone a comprehensive review aimed at drawing up a new and modern law that better reflects the conditions in the school sector. The new Act is also better adapted to a management by objectives approach in the school system and to the current division of responsibilities between central and local government.
The new Education Act has a clear and simple structure with rules that as far as possible are common to all types of schools and bodies responsible for schools. The new Education Act also means that regulations currently in different Acts and Ordinances are collected in one place. More uniform and coherent regulation also aims to make the Act easier to apply.
The consolidated legislation of the new Education Act is to provide a foundation for knowledge, choice and security in all forms of education and other activities covered by the Education Act.
The continued legislative process
On 23 March 2010, the Government presented the bill The new Education Act - for knowledge, choice and security (Govt. Bill 2009/10:165) to the Riksdag. After the Riksdag has processed and approved the bill, the new Education Act is expected to apply as of 1 July 2011.
The proposal for a new Education Act was drawn up by a working group at the Ministry of Education and Research, the Education Act Committee (U 2006:E). On 15 June 2009, the proposal was circulated for comment in a ministry memorandum The new Education Act - for knowledge, choice and security (Ds 2009:25) to approximately 140 consultation bodies. The comments of the consultation bodies were to be submitted to the Ministry of Education and Research by 1 October 2009. These comments were published on regeringen.se.
On 10 December 2009, the Government decided to obtain the opinion of the Council on Legislation on the proposal The new Education Act - for knowledge, choice and security (U2009/7188/S). After scrutiny by the Council on Legislation and incorporation of the viewpoints submitted, this bill will be presented to the Riksdag 23 March 2010.
