In Brief

  • The law clarifies that the teaching assignment includes planning and follow-up work.
  • Schools are mandated to actively prevent and address harassment and abusive behavior.
  • Communication routines with guardians are streamlined to reduce unnecessary workload.

The Swedish Parliament is set to approve a government proposal designed to give teachers and preschool teachers the necessary conditions to focus on their primary mission: education. By legally defining the teaching assignment to explicitly include planning and follow-up, the reform aims to create a more structured and manageable workday for school staff. Furthermore, the decision introduces new requirements for handling harassment and adjusts the frequency of development dialogues to improve efficiency in the school environment.

A Clearer Professional Role

The legislative changes aim to reduce the ambiguity surrounding what constitutes a teacher’s core duties. By codifying that planning and follow-up are integral parts of the teaching assignment, the government seeks to protect time for these essential tasks. Regulations will also be introduced to govern the time allocated to these different components, ensuring that teachers have the necessary space to prepare high-quality lessons.

Focus on Student Safety and Communication

Beyond the teaching role, the decision strengthens the legal framework regarding student safety. All school staff will have a clear, mandatory duty to actively identify and counteract bullying, harassment, and sexual harassment. Additionally, the administrative burden on teachers regarding communication with guardians will be eased. Schools will now have the flexibility to determine when information is shared, and the frequency of formal development dialogues will be reduced to at least once per year, rather than once per term.

Who is affected?

Individuals and Businesses

  • Teachers and Preschool Teachers: Gain a clearer legal definition of their work tasks, with specific protections for planning and follow-up time.
  • Students: Benefit from a safer school environment through more rigorous and active measures against harassment and bullying.
  • Guardians: Will experience changes in how they receive information from the school and a shift in the frequency of formal development dialogues to once per year.