Sweden's regions pay grants to the folk colleges where their residents choose to study.
How much is paid out varies between regions.
Region Norrbotten stands out as it is the only region that pays less to schools within its own county.
"Impacts a lot"
SVT has spoken to several folk high schools in Norrbotten.
They say that the low regional contribution affects their operations to the greatest extent.
- It is money that would go straight into the educational activities that we are missing out on.
We could hire more teachers or get better teaching premises, for example, says Madelene Hansson, principal at Sunderby Folkhögskola.
- The reasonable thing would be to receive the same compensation that the region sends to other parts of the country, says Kenneth Stålnacke, rector at Malmfältens Folkhögskola.
High support, still by far the lowest in the country
Most regions choose to have the same support within and outside their own region.
Gotland and Halland do not have vocational schools - therefore there are no figures on the intra-regional support.
Photo: SVT Graphics
Before the turn of the year, the intra-regional support was SEK 95 per person and participant week.
It has now been raised to SEK 132.
- I have worked for seven years and this is the first increase since I started, says Madelene Hansson.
Regional Councilor Anders Öberg (S) says that they are aware of the situation.
He believes that the economy will be strained for some time to come, but that the ambition is to rise to levels similar to other parts of the country during this term.
- We see that the folk high schools play a big role in the supply of skills, he says.
In the clip, you hear Daniel Nilsson, principal at Kalix folk high school, talk about the consequences and Anders Öberg (S)'s response to the criticism.
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The region pays about three times as much to folk high schools in other counties compared to schools in Norrbotten.
How is it that?
Hear regional councilor Anders Öberg (S) comment on the criticism in the clip.
Photo: Jimmy Bäckström/SVT