Introduction
Formal adult education
Brief historical account
Current policy priorities
Change of priority in adult education
The Education Act was amended in June 2020 regarding municipal adult education so that it must also be a basis for the national and regional supply of skills to working life and provide a good basis for the students' further education. The rule for priorities within municipal adult education at upper secondary level and municipal adult education as special education at upper secondary level was changed so that the persons who have the greatest need for education are given priority. This means that not only those who have the least education must be given priority in selection for the education, but also, for example, the unemployed and adults who need to change professions.
Education for newly arrived migrants with a short educational background
The government ha assigned mandate to the The National Agency for Education(Skolverket) to develop a supporting material (Uppdrag om utbildning för nyanlända med kort utbildning – utveckling av kommunal vuxenutbildning) which is supposed to make it easier for municipalities to combine municipal adult education (kommunal vuxenutbildning) in Swedish tuition for immigrants(SFI) with other parts of municipal adult education to develop an education suited mainly for newly arrived migrants who are active within The Swedish Public Employment Services (Arbetsförmedlingen) introduction assignment (etableringsuppdraget) with a short educational background.
The education should also consist of a basic education in mathematics and other courses or parts of courses which The National Agency for Education value as relevant for the target group. The education is to be run full days with consideration to the newly arrived migrants introduction to society (samhällsorientering).
Non-formal adult education
Brief historical account
Within these overarching objectives, the study associations and folk high schools are free to shape their own immediate aims and activities. The conditions for government funding for liberal adult education are expressed in the Ordinance on Governmental Grants to liberal adult education (Förordning om statsbidrag till folkbildningen 2015). The Ordinance came into force 15 May 2015 and applies to grants for 2016. The 2015 Ordinance repeals the 1991 Ordinance on government grants for adult education.
Current policy priorities
5000 new student places within folk high schools
The government has since 2015 implemented an adult education initiative for lifelong learning and increased employment. As a part of this initiative the government is proposing to add resources for 5000 new student places in general and specific courses in folk high schools at a cost of 671 million SEK yearly (5 000 nya utbildningsplatser inom folkhögskolan). This leads to increased possibilities for people who lack a seconadry and upper seconary education to complement or choose a vocational focused education. The proposition also means that 30 million SEK is added to specific educational support so that folk high schools can continue to be an important educational path for people with functional impairments.
Other Types of Publicly Subsidised Provision for Adult Learners
Education entry grants to increase recruitment to education for people with a short educational background
As a part of the adult education initiative for lifelong learning and increased employment, the government has introduced an education entry grant (Studiestartstöd- ett nytt rekryterande studiestöd). The objective of the grant is to increace recruitment into education for people with a short educational background and large education needs. The grant was taken into effect on 2 July 2017 and will work to strengthen the target groups possibilities within the labour market. The support is a grant consisting of 9200 SEK per studying month with the posibility to recieve an additonal grant for students with children. The education entry grant can be given for a maximum of 50 weeks for full-time studies, after that the student can either start working or continue their studies with the support of general student aid.
Added funds for the initiative Swedish from day one
The government has proposed that the initiative Swedish from day one for asylum seekers and some newly arrived (Svenska från dag ett för asylsökande och vissa nyanlända) gets 20 million SEK in added funds for 2018. The initiative has been successful and involves language training and community information through study associations and folk high schools. The aim is to offer the target group meaningful employment in anticipation of asylum or municipal placement and at the same time accelerate the establishment of the individuals who have been granted residence permits. The added funds means that more asylum seekers can be reached and that the initiative can be spread to more municipalities where there is a high demand and need. The proposal was taken into effect in the beginning of January 2018.