Sweden considers compulsory preschool for children with weak Swedish
Sweden's government wants to make preschool compulsory in some cases where children have weak Swedish. It has commissioned an inquiry to draft the rules.
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The assignment targets children whose limited exposure to Swedish at home has caused marked gaps in their Swedish-language development. The proposed obligation would cover preschool with language-development support.
The new brief goes beyond the voluntary language-support measures proposed in a June inquiry. It asks investigator Camilla Mårtensen to draft a compulsory scheme and propose exceptions for families staying in Sweden temporarily.
The directive says forcing children to be away from their guardians raises questions about proportionality and fundamental rights. Mårtensen must assess the proposals against Sweden's constitution, the European Convention on Human Rights and children's rights, including equal treatment.
The government announced the inquiry on 4 September, following an agreement with the Sweden Democrats. Mårtensen must report by 1 September 2027.
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