SVT News has reported that there are a number of parents who are against the school duty and critical of the Swedish school system. Instead, they want to educate their children outside the Swedish school.
But parental education is contrary to Swedish law, which says that all children who are resident in Sweden have a compulsory schooling and must participate in the school's activities.
Education Minister Anna Ekström has no plans to open up for more homeschooling.
- My point of departure is that in Sweden the school law applies and for Swedish children the curriculum applies and what is in the curriculum is very important for children and students to learn in order for them to do well in life, says Ekström.
"All children should go to school"In order to avoid having their children in the Swedish school, several families have moved abroad in recent years, including to Åland. There they have compulsory education instead of compulsory schooling, which allows parents to teach their children at home if they follow the curriculum.
In a Swedish Facebook group, which SVT News previously reported on, there are also parents who are considering or are moving abroad to avoid school duty.
- When the school law was tightened in 2010, 2011, then that was a very important reason that children's right to education, children's right to education precede parents' right to decide on children's religious and philosophical development and that I think is an argument that I make up, says Anna Ekström.
What do you say to Swedish parents who think that the Swedish school duty is too strict and who want to see a law that allows homeschooling to a greater extent?
- I do not agree with that, and there is a very strong support in Sweden for the school to be for all children and for all children to actually go to school.