This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/10/sweden-boarding-schools-fees-lundsberg-sigtuna-grennaskolan

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Sweden proposes ban on fees for national boarding schools Sweden proposes ban on fees for national boarding schools
(about 1 hour later)
Sweden's government has proposed barring the country's prestigious national boarding schools from charging fees to parents, instead turning them into government-funded free schools. Sweden's government has proposed barring its prestigious national boarding schools from charging parents additional fees for their children's education, turning them instead into ordinary government-funded free schools.
"It's hard to defend the fact that a select few schools should operate under completely different terms from all the rest," Jan Björklund, the country's education minister, told state radio as he announced the policy on Tuesday morning. "It's hard to defend the fact that a few select schools should operate under completely different terms from all the rest," Jan Björklund, the country's education minister, told Sweden's state radio as he announced the policy on Tuesday morning.
Under the ministry's proposal, the country's three remaining boarding schools – Lundsberg school, Sigtuna humanitarian school, and Grennaskolan – would lose their charitable status and instead become free schools funded entirely by the government. Under the ministry's proposal, the country's three remaining boarding schools - Lundsberg School, Sigtuna Humanitarian School, and Grennaskolan - will be no longer receive subsidies from Norway's central government.
Björklund argued that the special regulation under which the private boarding schools are run is at odds with the free schools policy Sweden pioneered in the early 1990s. They will instead receive a set amount of money from their local municipality for each student they teach, just as other Swedish state-funded "free schools" do.
"We want all independent schools to be open to all students regardless of their parents' financial circumstances," he said. "It is strange that there has been a different law for these schools for more than 40 years." In the UK, state boarding schools charge only the costs of boarding, while the education is state-funded.
Björklund argued that the special regulation under which the three national private boarding schools in Sweden are run is at odds with the free schools policy Sweden pioneered in the early 1990s, under which the government pays privately-run schools a fee for each student they educate.
"We want all independent schools to be open to all students regardless of their parents' financial circumstances," he said.
"It is strange that there has been a different law for these schools for more than 40 years."
Two of the schools, Lundsberg and Sigtuna, were explicitly modelled on British public schools such as Eton and Harrow when they were established in 1896 and 1900 respectively. Between them, they have educated much of Sweden's royalty and business elite. King Carl XVI Gustaf attended Sigtuna, as did Marcus and Jacob Wallenberg, from Sweden's most powerful business family.Two of the schools, Lundsberg and Sigtuna, were explicitly modelled on British public schools such as Eton and Harrow when they were established in 1896 and 1900 respectively. Between them, they have educated much of Sweden's royalty and business elite. King Carl XVI Gustaf attended Sigtuna, as did Marcus and Jacob Wallenberg, from Sweden's most powerful business family.
Lundsberg alumni include Prince Carl Philip and Olof Palme, Sweden's prime minister in the 1970s and early 1980s.Lundsberg alumni include Prince Carl Philip and Olof Palme, Sweden's prime minister in the 1970s and early 1980s.
The third school, Grennaskolan, founded in 1963, is less favoured by the elite.The third school, Grennaskolan, founded in 1963, is less favoured by the elite.
Under the new proposals, the central government will also stop subsidising boarding fees for children of Swedish parents who live abroad.
Björklund stressed that his proposal had nothing to do with the forced closure of Lundsberg in August following a series of bullying scandals.Björklund stressed that his proposal had nothing to do with the forced closure of Lundsberg in August following a series of bullying scandals.
"We started the investigation long before the news and I want to emphasise that the rule change has nothing to do with what has happened at Lundsberg over the past year," he said."We started the investigation long before the news and I want to emphasise that the rule change has nothing to do with what has happened at Lundsberg over the past year," he said.
The school reopened just over a week after it closed, when its board successfully challenged the Swedish schools inspectorate in court.The school reopened just over a week after it closed, when its board successfully challenged the Swedish schools inspectorate in court.
Johan von Schéele, chairman of the Lundsberg school foundation, said the school's financial department had assured him that Björklund's proposals would not lead to dramatic changes. "This is not going to change the economy of these kinds of schools in Sweden, or just to a minor degree," he said.Johan von Schéele, chairman of the Lundsberg school foundation, said the school's financial department had assured him that Björklund's proposals would not lead to dramatic changes. "This is not going to change the economy of these kinds of schools in Sweden, or just to a minor degree," he said.
He said he expected the changes to affect only fees paid for the educational aspects of the school, and not those paid by parents living in Sweden for accommodation or recreational activities. "I haven't seen the proposals so at the moment this is just guessing," he added. He said he expected the new rules to only limit the fees parents pay for teaching at the school, and not those paid for accommodation.
Elin Boberg, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, confirmed that this was the case.
"They will now only be allowed to take out fees for the boarding part of the schools, and that part we will not be able to regulate, so if your child is a day student at one of these schools, you will not have to pay."
Lundsberg and Sigtuna have in recent years faced a string of scandals over bullying.Lundsberg and Sigtuna have in recent years faced a string of scandals over bullying.
This year, police became involved when a boy at Lundsberg was taken to hospital after he was burned with a hot iron by a gang of nine other boys. This year, police were called into Lundsberg when a boy was taken to hospital after he was burned with a hot iron by a gang of nine other boys.
When allegations of bullying at Lundsberg first surfaced in 2011, one pupil told Swedish television it was "like Lord of the Flies".When allegations of bullying at Lundsberg first surfaced in 2011, one pupil told Swedish television it was "like Lord of the Flies".
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.