Proposal for Central Registry of School Absentees in Gothenburg

A new proposal presented in the Gothenburg municipal council seeks to establish a central registry aimed at addressing problematic school absenteeism. This initiative aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the need for expanding special education groups and increasing available spots in resource schools, alongside assessing how many students are currently denied admission to these facilities.

The proposal, put forth by the Moderate Party, emphasizes the necessity for schools and social services to collaborate on a unified action plan. This would centralize the responsibility for this specific group of students, ensuring a cohesive support system for those affected by long-term absenteeism.

Currently, the extent of prolonged school absence remains challenging to quantify. According to a national survey conducted by the Swedish National Agency for Education, over 4% of students experienced absenteeism of at least five weeks during a monitoring period in the autumn of 2023. This statistic translates to approximately 47,000 students in preschool and primary education, a figure deemed higher than pre-pandemic levels.

The Agency noted that to accurately gauge student absenteeism, educational authorities must implement clear procedures for reporting and recording absences. In a recent annual report, Gothenburg's school administration indicated that there were 569 reports of student absenteeism in the previous year. This past autumn also marked the launch of Gothenburg's first resource school, with plans for two additional schools underway.

In a bid to provide targeted support, Gothenburg initiated distance learning programs for students in grades six to nine who cannot participate in regular education due to documented medical, psychological, or social challenges. This initiative began after receiving approval from the School Inspectorate.

Axel Josefson, the group leader for the Moderate Party in Gothenburg, expressed the importance of this initiative, acknowledging that while there are positive local efforts, they do not address the full scale of the issue. He suggested that there could be several thousand students in Gothenburg facing significant attendance issues, thus necessitating a more coordinated approach. Furthermore, he highlighted the crucial need for enhanced collaboration with social services.

Many students may remain at home due to bullying or a perceived lack of support from their educational institutions. In light of this, the question arises: how effective would a central registry be in addressing these challenges? Josefson underscored that schools must actively promote positive values within their environments. If these measures prove insufficient, innovative and individualized solutions must be developed to ensure that these children receive an education.