More and more schools are criticized for hemmasittare

In 2018, criticized, 197 schools by the schools Inspectorate, for not doing enough work to get students with high absenteeism to increase their presence. There is a significant increase compared with the previous year when the number was 148.

22 elementary schools in 14 different municipalities has been criticized more than once, in 2018. A school in Varberg and one in Gällivare had three kritikbeslut each in 2018.

so Far this year, approximately 80 primary schools received the decision on the imposition of the deficiencies in the work to increase the students ' presence.

A school in Bjuvs municipality has shown such serious shortcomings that it is now threatened with the penalty of a fine of 300.000 if the school does not come with a concrete action plan by may. The case concerns a high school student with a disability who, since the start of school in August 2017, has had an absence of between 45 and 100 per cent. The school considered not having investigated the reasons for the student's high absenteeism, according to the schools Inspectorate.

the Causes of last year's increase have not been analysed. At the same time, says the schools Inspectorate, that there are a large number of unreported cases.

– Many parents don't sign. They are not always aware of what the school and the municipality is obliged to do, and what rights their children have, " says Christian Floer, process developer for tillsynsenheten at the Swedish schools Inspectorate.

Schools and principals need a higher degree, find out the reasons for pupils ' absence.

with the prolonged high level of absenteeism that exists today is not mapped. Three years ago, the schools Inspectorate, a national mapping and quality assessment of extensive invalid absence in the Swedish primary schools. It showed that there were 1.700 students then had the invalid absence for at least a month.

" The weaknesses that we saw as we see today. Schools and principals need a higher degree, find out the reasons for pupils ' absence. It is a prerequisite to putting in the right measures, " says Christian Floer.

According to a review of the Facts in the last year, it may be the 5,000 students who don't go to school at all.

the Floer also stresses the importance of acting and doing the right things in time.

– And to visualize and hear what the needs and difficulties the pupil tells about.

is different and can also be outside the school, says Floer. Several of the children have a disability which means that they are in need of additional adaptations and support.

the Psychologist Malin Gren Landell, has led a government investigation into whether skolfrånvaro and has had several assignments for the social services and the schools Inspectorate. She believes that it is problematic that there does not exist a comprehensive picture of how many students who don't go to school. But also how the municipalities handle the problem – which the psychologist describes as large and growing.

– to put the right measures you need to really find out why the student is at home. Otherwise it will be so that you just put into action that may or may not match with the needs that this student has, " she says.

Mary Caryll, head of utbildningssektionen at the Swedish association of local authorities and regions (SALAR) says that the preventive work against skolfrånvaro is central. At the same time, the principals provide support to break the long-term skolfrånvaro.

"We have seen that the interaction between the school, social services and health care is a key to success," she says.

Landell considers the SALAR, it is important to collect national statistics from the principals, both for valid as invalid absence.

" such A mandate from the government to the Swedish national agency for Education would be able to support principals in the work to prevent skolfrånvaro and also provide a basis for research. The most important thing is so clear what is done in each school and within each municipality, " says Mary Caryll.

Compulsory schooling is a shared responsibility between principals and guardians. According to the education act can guardians be submitted with a penalty if the children do not comply with their compulsory school attendance. In Staffantorps municipality has two parents received a financial penalty about 5.200 sek, respectively, 3.400 sek for their child's absence.

Read more: Anna, 11, was not supported by the school – had been home in two years