Minister for Education Lotta Edholm has several times described it as the government now making the largest school investment in 30 years.
But when the Riksdag's Research Service, commissioned by the Social Democrats, compared how much money had been spent on schools in the state budget over time and taking inflation into account, a different picture emerged.
Calculated in constant prices, the previous government spent SEK 27 billion on schools in 2022 and this year the new nonsocialist government is spending SEK 25 billion.
"Little consolation"
In SVT's 30 minutes, Minister for Education Lotta Edholm admits that this means that the investments due to inflation will be worth SEK 2 billion less.
– It is a small consolation, I understand that the municipalities are struggling, says Lotta Edholm in the program and calls for politicians at municipal and national level to now help each other to cope with the school's tough finances.
How reasonable is it to say that this is the biggest school investment in 30 years, when the money is enough for less than last year?
"If you compare with other areas that the state also invests in, the school has never had such a large share of the state budget as it actually has now, but I think we should continue to invest in schools through state investments, it is completely obvious to me.
Admits shortcomings in independent school systems
SVT has previously been able to reveal recurring shortcomings in teaching at the independent school group Thorengruppen's schools. For 30 minutes, Minister for Education Lotta Edholm expresses a self-criticism of what the free school system looks like.
"It is clear that if you have serious quality requirements, a school should not be able to continue to operate, then you actually have to close down," she says.