Central

• The central government is responsible for:

  • Overall legislation covering:
• Preschool;
• Out-of-school centres;
• Compulsory school;
• Upper secondary school;
• Adult education;
• Folk high schools;
• Sami schools;
• Universities and university colleges;
• Research;
• Funding, and
• International cooperation.

Regional

Regional authorities are responsible for:

• Admission to secondary school (pupils may apply for a different school than the one of their municipality)

Educational responsibilities in a broader sense are, however, not mandatory for the regions.

Local

The majority of schools in Sweden are the responsibility of municipalities. Municipalities are the principal organisers in the school system, together with the independent (private) schools.

Municipal authorities are responsible for:

• Policy implementation;
• Child care;
• Pre-schools;
• Compulsory comprehensive school;
• Upper secondary school;
• Education for the disabled;
• Adult education;
• The setting up of goals and making of decisions on pre-school and other education;
• The setting up of priorities;
• The allocation of resources;
• Employment of the personnel, and
• The funding of independent schools.

Responsible ministries/bodies

Ministry of Education and Research

The Swedish National Agency for Education

The Swedish Higher Education Authority

Sources

The official gateway to Sweden web-site. Swedish education.

Education Act 2010

Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions, Startpage/Municipalities, County councils and Regions/The role of the Municipalities.