Removals to Sweden – what you need to know about education and healthcare system

If you planning to move to Sweden, you may need to know a few things about education and the healthcare system.

THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IN SWEDEN

Sweden places great importance on its education system. As a whole, the country promotes equality regardless of gender or social status. Sweden also encourages innovation and creativity across all fields and has its sights set on being a leading country in research.

Sweden is a country built around staunch equality and community spirit. This directly influences their school system, where children are taught the same subjects until they are old enough to make their own education/career choices. From a very early age, how a child learns is nurtured and they are encouraged to socialise and collaborate with their classmates. Furthermore, great emphasis is put upon treating the genders equally, which lends to Swedish society’s reputation for equality among gender and class.

1. PRE-SCHOOL

Preschool is open to children from 1 to 5 years of age. Eight out of ten children at this age spend part of their weekdays there. The Swedish tradition of preschool emphasises the importance of play in a child’s development and learning. The interests and needs of children are also key components of their education in the preschool curriculum. Gender-aware education is increasingly common in Swedish preschools. The aim is for children to have the same opportunities in life, regardless of gender.

2. KINDERGARTEN

All children are offered a place in kindergarten starting in the Autumn term of the year they turn 6 until they start compulsory schooling. Kindergarten is designed to stimulate each child’s development and learning and provide a platform for their future schooling.

3. COMPULSORY SCHOOLING

This comprises Elementary school for years 1–3 followed by the middle school for years 4–6 and then junior high school (högstadiet) for years 7–9. These schools are either municipally run or publicly funded schools ‘free schools’ or there are boarding schools known as ‘private schools, which are funded by privately paid tuition.

There is a concerted effort to streamline education, as all students at the primary school level take the same limited subject groups. Critics claim it has lowered results significantly among talented students without raising them within other groups. A community where a private school offers its services must support it with the same amount of money, or vouchers, per student that it provides to public schools. The amount of financing per student is the same, and schools that receive vouchers cannot charge additional fees.

4. AFTER COMPULSORY SCHOOL

Senior high school (gymnasium) is optional and free of charge. Senior high school programs run for three years. Almost all students who finish compulsory school start senior high school. To be accepted into a national program, students must have passing grades in Swedish or Swedish as a second language, English, and Maths. For senior high school, students require passing grades in nine additional subjects, for a total of twelve. For a vocational program, students must have passing grades in five additional subjects, for a total of eight. As all education is publicly funded, all students have a large selection of choices. This prevents limiting choices for those with a less fortunate background, as you find in the UK.

Education Facts in Sweden

Sweden gives its students the right to choose where they want to attend school. This means if a child does not like their school they can switch schools – public or private at no extra cost.
As a technologically advanced society, Sweden often uses computers and IT software for interactive learning. Over 70% of primary students have access to their computers recent study in Sweden suggests that there is some inequality among learning abilities in Sweden, specifically in the areas of math, science, and reading.

What is the Education System Like in Sweden?

Sweden is a country built around staunch equality and community spirit. This directly influences their school system, where children are taught the same subjects until they are old enough to make their own education/career choices. From a very early age, how a child learns is nurtured and they are encouraged to socialize and collaborate with their classmates. Furthermore, great emphasis is put upon treating the genders equally, which lends to Swedish society’s reputation for equality among gender and class.

What is the School System like in Sweden?

Public schools in Sweden are supported by their municipality (i.e., the state or province) and thus paid for by Swedish taxes. The government body that oversees education across the country is the Swedish National Agency for Education. This body of government is responsible for ensuring all students in Sweden have access to high-quality education regardless of where they live in Sweden. Public schools follow the Swedish National Syllabus, which teaches all general subjects.

One of the main differences between public and private schools is that private schools are not obliged to teach the Swedish National Syllabus. However, the majority of private schools choose to follow this curriculum so that education expectations and standards remain the same throughout the country.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

2022

• 5th November – All Saints’ Day
• 25th December – Christmas Day
• 26th December – 2nd Day of Christmas

2023

• 1st January – New Year’s Day
• 6th January – Epiphany
• 7th April – Good Friday
• 9th April – Easter Sunday
• 10th April – Easter Monday
• 1st May – May Day
• 18th May – Ascension Day
• 28th May – Whit Sunday
• 6th June – National Day
• 24th June – Midsummer Day
• 4th November – All Saints’ Day
• 25th December – Christmas Day
• 26th December – 2nd Day of Christmas

2024

• 1st January – New Year’s Day
• 6th January – Epiphany
• 29th March – Good Friday
• 31st March – Easter Sunday
• 1st April – Easter Monday
• 1st May – May Day
• 9th May – Ascension Day
• 19th May – Whit Sunday
• 6th June – National Day
• 22nd June – Midsummer Day
• 2nd November – All Saints’ Day
• 25th December – Christmas Day
• 26th December – 2nd Day of Christmas

HEALTHCARE IN SWEDEN

Sweden’s healthcare system is founded on a well-organized and comprehensive primary care sector, and most patients enter the healthcare system via primary care. Typically primary care in Sweden comprises physician-led clinics providing medical, preventive, and rehabilitative care that does not require the medical and technical facilities of a hospital. The primary health centres are usually staffed by a group of GPs and a multidisciplinary team including nurses (many of whom are specialists in e.g. diabetes, asthma, and paediatrics), physiotherapists, midwives, and psychologists, providing a wide range of medical services.

A FEW FACTS ABOUT HEALTHCARE IN SWEDEN

Sweden has a decentralized universal healthcare system for everyone. The Ministry of Health and Social Affairs dictates health policy and budgets, but the 21 regional councils finance health expenditures through tax funding; an additional 290 municipalities take care of individuals who are disabled or elderly. To service 10.23 million people, Sweden has 70 regionally-owned public hospitals, seven university hospitals, and six private hospitals.

The cost for medical consultations not only has a price cap but is generally low. The average cost of a primary care visit is 150kr-300kr and the cost of specialist consultation, including mental health services, ranges from 200kr-400 kr. The cost of hospitalization, including pharmaceuticals, does not exceed 100kr per day and people under the age of 20 are exempt from all co-payments. Healthcare services, such as immunizations, cancer screenings, and maternity care, are also free and have no co-payments.

All dental care for people under the age of 23 is free. When a person turns 23, they no longer qualify for free dental health care in Sweden and must pay out of pocket. However, the government pays them annual subsidies, or an allowance, of 600kr to pay for dental expenses. In Sweden, the cost of tooth extraction is 950 kr and the cleaning and root filling for a single root canal cost 50kr. If dental care costs total anywhere between 3,000kr-15,000kr, the patient is reimbursed 50% of the cost. If it exceeds 15,000kr, 85% of the cost is reimbursed.

In 2010, Sweden made private healthcare insurance available. The use of private health insurance has been increasing due to the low number of hospitals, long waiting times to receive healthcare, and Sweden’s priority treatment of emergency cases first. In Sweden, one in 10 people do not rely on Sweden’s universal healthcare but instead purchase private health insurance. While the costs for private plans vary, one can expect to pay 4,000 kr ($435) annually for one person, on average.