Government's failure to tackle gang violence – schools play a crucial role

The measures taken so far by the government – tougher sanctions and increased police presence – are necessary but not sufficient. In order to put a stop to new recruitment in the long term, it is necessary for the whole of society to get involved and take responsibility, and one of the most important areas in this fight is schools.

That all children leave school with a solid education is important not only for the future of the individual, but also for society as a whole. Young people who succeed in school rarely choose to go down the criminal path.

But Swedish schools face major challenges. Teachers warn that we are now facing the biggest cuts in three decades, while schools in vulnerable areas are struggling to cope with students at risk of exclusion. The government is prioritizing tax cuts for the richest instead of giving healthcare and schools the resources they need. This is visible in classrooms, where students’ reading comprehension is declining and more and more students are failing basic skills.

We, the Social Democrats, are therefore funding three concrete proposals in our budget proposal which can help to reverse the trend:

An additional teacher or educator in each classroom in the first year to ensure that all children receive the help they need to learn to read, write and count. Early intervention is crucial to prevent children from falling behind in their education.

Lack of language skills is one of the main reasons why children fail at school. We want to introduce language requirements for preschool staff and strengthen language development work, especially in vulnerable areas.

Students with neuropsychiatric disabilities need to be supported with the right support at the right time. We are allocating resources so that schools, in collaboration with school authorities, systematically develop and disseminate the best methods for meeting students with NPF.

The government that now governs Sweden has chosen a different path – one where school cuts are the norm and tax dollars are used to finance tax cuts for the wealthy.

Asa Westlund

Spokesperson for school policy (S)

Ewa Pihl Krabbe

Member of Parliament (S)