On Thursday, the Minister of Education was questioned in the Riksdag's Education Committee.
A key issue was when she read the memorandum drawn up at her department, which contained information that students in the PISA survey had been excluded on incorrect grounds.
- It came to my inbox on December 4 and it was information that I myself had ordered.
I had asked the officials to do a critical review, says Anna Ekström.
But if you received the information on December 4, 2019, why did you say on July 9, 2020 that you did not have any information that would indicate that any students had been excluded on incorrect grounds?
- The question I answered was whether students had deliberately been excluded on incorrect grounds, and no such information has been raised in the memorandum I received on 4 December, says Anna Ekström.
Did you still express yourself as having no information that students had been excluded on incorrect grounds?
- I answered the question and it was whether students had been deliberately excluded on incorrect grounds, says Anna Ekström.
The National Agency for Education gets homework
The Minister has repeatedly referred to the fact that she asked questions to the National Agency for Education and received answers that the exclusions complied with the regulations.
- In all contacts with me, the National Agency for Education has been very clear that the exclusions have followed the OECD's regulations.
The National Agency for Education is now given a special government assignment to strengthen its efforts regarding the next PISA survey.
- It is a lesson that the National Agency for Education should do.
This is because we must be able to trust the PISA survey, all its parts, says Anna Ekström.
Do you trust the Swedish National Agency for Education's director general?
- Yes.
But I expect the National Agency for Education to now take its responsibility.