What happened
More upper secondary students should attend vocational programs that make them ready for work directly after school. This is the view of the agency Skolverket, which now wants municipalities to provide more such educational places. At the same time, the agency wants municipalities to reduce places in programs in economics, social science, and arts subjects. However, the Social Science Programme will still remain one of the largest in upper secondary school, according to Skolverket's expert Anders Håkansson.
Our analysis
When the state wants to steer young people away from academic studies, it is easy to guess who will be hit the hardest. Many young new Swedes see education as the surest way to build a secure future and achieve social mobility. Reducing places in academic programs closes doors to universities.
Politicians and authorities often speak about the importance of integration and knowledge. At the same time, they now want young people to be steered directly into practical shortage occupations instead of higher education. It is about supplying the labor market with workforce, not about giving every young person maximum freedom to choose their life.
Sweden needs vocational workers, but the choice should be free for everyone. The risk with Skolverket's stance is increased sorting, where children of established Swedes with academic backgrounds continue to universities while young new Swedes are expected to take care of the market's immediate needs.
Explained
A vocational program is an upper secondary education that focuses on practical skills for a specific occupation, in contrast to higher education preparatory programs, which primarily prepare students for university studies.