Sweden's ten student associations, which include ABF, Folkuniversitet and Studiefrämjandet, among others, receive almost two billion kroner in government grants annually.

Now an audit carried out by the National Audit Office shows that control and follow-up are lacking "at all levels of the system".

- For example, receipts, proof of payment, invoices or lease agreements are missing, says Ann-Marie Skorpen to SVT Nyheter.

- Student associations pay grants to study circles without ensuring that there is an actual cost.

"The government has not been active enough"

The review shows, among other things, that there is a risk that the state grant is used to subsidize the study circles' companies, that it becomes general operating support for associations with which the student unions cooperate - and that it is used for private consumption.

- We have found concrete examples of that, where you have received compensation for food, fuel and capital equipment.

The National Audit Office also directs criticism at the government and believes that they have not been active enough when it comes to managing the control.

In addition, Ann-Marie Skorpen points out that it is problematic to give student associations the responsibility of reviewing their own activities.

- Then they must delete activities that are wrong and we see that they do not do this in a consistent manner.

- There are also weak incentives for student unions to cancel because it affects their future state grant allocation.

The Swedish Education Council responds to the criticism

In a press release, the Folkbildningsrådet, which is tasked with allocating and monitoring state subsidies to Swedish folk education, says that they take the National Audit Office's criticism "very seriously".

- We share the National Audit Office's view that control and follow-up of the state grant needs to be strengthened after the problems raised in the report, says Maria Graner, the Swedish Education Council's secretary general in the press release.

- State grants for public education must go to public education - we do not accept that the money is used incorrectly.