As SVT Nyheter Väst rewritten during Wednesday morning, it varies widely how West Sweden's municipalities end up in the school ranking, which is based on criteria such as teacher density and resources for the school.

Strömstad thus ends up in the absolute bottom of the country's municipalities.

- It does not feel good. We know about the problems, but it becomes very clear when this ranking comes, says Lena Martinsson (S), chair of the education committee in Strömstad.

Lena Martinsson, (S), chair of the education committee Strömstad.

According to Lena Martinsson, the reasons for the placement are several. One is that you have a low proportion of teachers with teacher identification.

- We have major problems in recruiting trained personnel, this is largely due to our location on the outskirts of Sweden. We have little opportunity to recruit from surrounding municipalities and we are not alone in that, she says.

Another problem is said to be wrestling with a high absence due to illness in the municipality in general and in certain parts of the education sector in particular.

"Working actively to reverse the trend"

But according to Martinsson, they are now working broadly to reverse developments.

- In terms of teacher qualifications, it will be better. Many of our educators have only a little left on the education and we try to release them so that they can finish their studies. We also work actively to reduce the number of illnesses.

Another "light in the dark" is that the merit values, ie the grades, are not so alarming in Strömstad. If you break that criterion, according to Martinsson, Strömstad is ranked 79 in the country.

Do you put enough resources into the school?

- No, we might not. And we may need to get better at putting resources in the right places within the school, ”says Lena Martinsson.

The Chairman of the Teachers' Union in Strömstad, Caisa von Mentzer says:

- It feels heavy that we end up so low, the worst result we have had. But I have already been contacted by Lena Martinsson and the managing director and we will now work together to rectify this. I think you have to raise teacher salaries, among other things.