Swedish Government Proposes Full Transparency for Independent Schools

The Swedish government has announced a landmark proposal to enforce full transparency and public access principles on all independent schools, a move intended to ensure equal accountability and insight for taxpayers as seen in municipal schools. Education and Integration Minister Simona Mohamsson (L) unveiled this initiative during a press conference, emphasizing its importance for public oversight.

Currently, independent schools (friskolor) are not subject to the same public access obligations as municipal schools, meaning they are not required to disclose operational information. This gap has raised concerns over accountability and has been the subject of ongoing political debate, particularly following investigations into admissions fraud exposed by SVT's 'Uppdrag granskning' in 2013.

The proposal, which has gained support from the Tidöpartierna coalition including the Sweden Democrats, seeks to apply the public access principle universally across all independent schools by 2027. Initially, the Tidö agreement considered a less stringent transparency principle for smaller schools, but the Liberals have pushed for a uniform application. Three options were presented in a 2024 report: full application of the public access principle, a tailored transparency law for independent schools, or a moderated application for the smallest institutions. The government favors the first option.

Despite some internal resistance within coalition parties and opposition from sector representatives, Minister Mohamsson pledged that this marks a crucial shift in how the education sector is regulated, promising further significant reforms. This transparency drive responds to longstanding concerns about school segregation, admissions irregularities, and the overall integrity of independent schools, which are funded by taxpayers and perform public authority functions.

The proposed law will soon be reviewed by the Lagrådet before expected implementation in 2027. The move reflects a broader intent to ensure private schools adhere to the same standards as municipal ones, addressing past controversies and promoting trust in Sweden's education system.

Former Education Minister Jan Björklund, reflecting on past issues revealed by investigative reporting, underscored the necessity for such transparency measures to prevent misuse within the independent school sector. The reform marks a turning point in the conservative government’s handling of the school system legacy.