Teachers' Union: "You want to help but not have time"

- There is frustration on the part of teachers and principals about not being able to help these students to be sufficiently challenged, says Stefan Johansson from the Teachers' Union in Växjö.

Special opportunities for gifted students depend on the teachers and the principal's own interest and energy, he says. Discovering and helping this student group early could prevent under-stimulation and depression, something that many specially gifted students suffer.

- Each school should have the resources needed to move on and help these students move on to the right teacher, the right skills. Often it is so in elementary school that one does not have the subject skills required, he says.

But even though teachers discover their talented students, it is not always enough time:

- I know a lot of colleagues and principals who feel a great frustration that you can not help them for the resources do not exist. You want to help them but you don't have time, says Stefan Johansson.

The National Agency for Education is now investigating what increased support for specially gifted pupils can look like. The proposal is presented to the government later this spring.