Sweden is poised for a significant overhaul of its education system, with proposed reforms designed to reduce the administrative burden on teachers and free up more time for classroom instruction. These changes, emerging from an in-depth investigation, promise to reshape the daily work of educators and improve the overall quality of education.
Reducing excessive administration for a better work environment
The proposed reform addresses one of the most pressing issues for teachers: the time-consuming documentation and reporting required by current digital systems. According to Government statements, this administrative overload is the largest source of stress among educators. As Minister of Education Lotta Edholm (Liberals, L) stated at a recent press conference,
“It is absolutely central that we get rid of unnecessary administration.”
Teachers across Sweden have long expressed frustration with an environment that forces them to spend more time on paperwork than on engaging with students.
Streamlining development conversations
Investigator Bo Jansson has been tasked with proposing measures to reduce non-essential tasks. One of his key suggestions is to change the way student development is communicated: instead of “continuous information” being shared, updates would be provided “at times chosen by the school.”
This approach also extends to parent-teacher meetings. Currently, primary and upper secondary schools hold one development conversation per term; however, Jansson proposes that in most cases, a single conversation per academic year will be sufficient.
Additionally, the investigation calls for a revision of the rules regarding offensive treatment. The new focus would be on noticing and acting rather than exhaustive documentation and reporting. In Jansson’s words,
“Today, everything must be reported, big or small. We see that too much time is spent on it, rather than preventing and acting when incidents occur.”
Regulating teaching hours to enhance educational quality
Another central aspect of the reform is the regulation of teaching hours—a figure that has increased significantly since 1995. With the expansion of teaching time, other essential tasks such as planning, follow-up, and professional development have been forced into a shrinking window.
Bo Jansson’s proposals include defined intervals for teaching hours, ensuring a balance between classroom instruction and necessary preparation. For example, teachers of preschool classes and primary school years 1–6 would have a maximum of 650 teaching hours per academic year, with the following breakdown:
- Preschool Class and Primary School (Years 1–6): 550–650 hours
- Upper Secondary School: 500–600 hours
- Upper Secondary School (Non-Vocational Subjects): 450–550 hours
- Upper Secondary School (Vocational Profile Subjects): 450–650 hours
A key rule accompanying these proposals is that there should be at least as much time allocated for planning and follow-up as there is for actual teaching. In other words, one teaching hour should correspond to one hour of planning.
Union endorsement and future implications
The Swedish Teachers’ Union (Lärarförbundet) has welcomed the investigation’s proposals, emphasizing that national regulations are crucial for creating a sustainable work environment for teachers. Union chairperson Anna Olskog commented,
“If we agree that our children and young people deserve a good start in life, this is where we must begin. National regulations are crucial for creating a sustainable work environment for teachers. The individual teacher regains control over their own work.”
The reform is seen as a vital step toward alleviating teacher stress and ensuring that educators have the time and resources to focus on what matters most: their students’ learning and development.
The Future of teaching in Sweden
As Sweden moves forward with these teacher reform proposals, the focus remains on streamlining administrative tasks, regulating teaching hours, and improving classroom efficiency to foster a healthier, more effective educational environment. With strong support from both government officials and teacher unions, the proposed changes could set a new standard for teacher work-life balance and pave the way for an improved educational system that benefits students, educators, and society as a whole.
