There will be no national tests in either compulsory school, upper secondary school or adult education during the spring term 2021. In compulsory school year three and in special school and Sami school year four, however, the tests must be completed.
That message came from the National Agency for Education on Tuesday.
- For many students, it probably feels nice to get rid of the stress and be able to spend time on teaching.
It is more difficult to learn with distance education, if you yourself have been ill or the teacher has been away, says Jennie Gustafsson, union chairman of the Swedish Student Council, Svea.
She points out that many have been worried that if the tests really gave a fair picture of the students' knowledge of the tests conducted this spring.
No ordinary situation
She does not think it would have been a fair picture of the students' knowledge if the tests had been conducted this spring.
This is because many upper secondary schools do differently, some carry out distance education, others have regular teaching.
For upper secondary school, distance education again prevails.
- It is not a normal situation we are in. But at the national level it is very sad, it will be difficult to see what loss of knowledge we get with the pandemic.
National exams are the only type of legal insurance we have of Swedish schools, says Jennie Gustafsson.
Risk of loss of knowledge
Åsa Fahlén, chairman of the National Union of Teachers, also states that it is more difficult now to help those students who need extra support.
She believes that we will see a loss of knowledge in the future.
- Teachers will be able to give grades, but there is a risk that you will not have time to go into depth.
Some students will lose certain parts and this then affects the entire school system.
This is something we need to set aside resources to deal with right now.