The researcher on home-sitters: "Serious social problems"

Britten Ekstrand is a teacher in pedagogy and has long researched in the field of home sitters. She believes that the problem is bigger than just the individual affected.

- It is not exclusively an individually linked problem but must also be seen as a social problem. The most serious problem is that democracy can be undermined if we have too many who do not have basic education in society. That is to say more and more without general reading and writing skills and the ability to actively participate in society, she says.

She explains that prolonged school absenteeism, in many cases several years, can lead to the individual being excluded, which in turn can lead to unemployment. Research also shows a fairly strong link between long-term school absenteeism and drug problems, crime or the like. This can apply to both girls and boys, Ekstrand says.

According to Britten Ekstrand, we should look at how society, in particular the local community, looks to reduce the problem of homeowners. She believes that, for example, high unemployment in the city or village where one lives affects children's and young people's motivation to go to school.

She further explains that you need to work with the atmosphere and climate in the school to overcome the problem. It is important to review the school's goals, means and meaning.

- But we also need to work with the relationships between adults and children. Teachers and school management usually have the knowledge required, but may not have the support and resources needed, she explains.

But at the same time, she believes that there is hope for opportunities to reverse the negative trend. She explains that today the phenomenon is getting more attention among politicians, by school management and in general. Since then, research has also made great progress in this area.

- We have more and more knowledge about school absenteeism in general, as well as the phenomenon of home attendance today. I think it will turn around and get better soon, ”she says.

See the feature about Patrik who has not been to school for 10 months.

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