SwedenLivingWorld world_2_fill WorldBusiness BusinessSports sports-soccer SportsEntertainmentEntertain

300 Million Extra for Books in School

The government grant for purchasing books in schools is increased by 300 million kronor next year – to 480 million. The government is thereby continuing its investment in increased reading time and reduced screen time.

» Published: December 21 2024

300 Million Extra for Books in School
Photo: Claudio Bresciani / TT

Last year, the government introduced a grant for fiction and non-fiction literature, targeting preschool, preschool class, and elementary school. But from 2025, the grant will also cover middle school, high school, and upper secondary school.

In addition, the grant will increase from 176 million kronor to 480 million kronor.

We're getting a new law this summer that says we need to have staffed libraries, and then they also need to be filled with books, says Minister of Education Lotta Edholm (L), who thinks that the current situation "looks pretty bad" in many schools and preschools.

They are often depleted of children's literature in preschool, and that's where much of the work begins to get children interested in books and reading aloud.

Have been naive

Of the 176 million kronor allocated last year, almost 168 million kronor have been granted. That corresponds to approximately 840,000 books, according to the government's calculation – assuming that one book costs 200 kronor.

In that case, the new funds could lead to 2.4 million books for students. Together with the recently established reading lists, the government hopes to get children and young people to read more.

Lotta Edholm thinks that people have been naive about young people's reading habits.

We still have a huge problem with myths about being able to read with both eyes and ears. But there has been an awakening in recent years, and it's essential that we catch up from a political perspective.

Lack of librarians

According to Lotta Edholm, this is a way to begin building up school libraries. However, trained school librarians are still lacking, but she hopes that the investment will also spark young people's interest in the profession.

This year, the literature grant has simultaneously been reduced by one million kronor. Doesn't the government's reading promotion efforts also need to consider the cycle of literature?

This targets children and young people to change their reading habits, and then school libraries are crucial. Then you can hope that if children read more, they might read more as adults eventually, and then the regular public libraries will likely experience a renaissance.

Should reading promoters worry that the sale of printed books is decreasing?

But we're seeing a significant increase in purchases of children's books. And if you invest nearly half a billion kronor in buying fiction, it increases the demand for books. This is a supplement that benefits children's book authors and the sale of children's books.

The National Agency for Education and the Cultural Council recently presented reading lists with Swedish and international fiction works intended to support preschool teachers and teachers.

The government is allocating 218 million kronor to school libraries from 2025. From 2026, 433 million kronor will be allocated annually.

A requirement for schools to have staffed school libraries was proposed in an investigation in 2021. The investigation also proposed the possibility for teachers to further educate themselves to work as school librarians. The same investigator (Gustav Fridolin, former MP spokesperson and Minister of Education) also proposed a legal right for students to have access to textbooks.

In connection with the government's announcement about school libraries, the trade union DIK reiterated its demand to double the number of places in library education programs. DIK wants to see one librarian per 300 students in elementary school and one per 400 students in upper secondary school, according to DIK's independent member magazine Magasin K.

Tags

TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

These are the changes in the new "Let's Dance"

These are the changes in the new "Let's Dance"

The Danish Bodil Prize becomes gender-neutral

The Danish Bodil Prize becomes gender-neutral

He receives the Katapultpriset for his debut novel

He receives the Katapultpriset for his debut novel

Strömsö stops broadcasting on SVT

Strömsö stops broadcasting on SVT

Marianne Faithfull album to be released posthumously

Marianne Faithfull album to be released posthumously

Iran blocks female artists on the net

Iran blocks female artists on the net

So many more votes did KAJ get than Måns Zelmerlöw

So many more votes did KAJ get than Måns Zelmerlöw

Her library was burned - making art about censorship

Her library was burned - making art about censorship

Alexander Skarsgård makes a film with Charli XCX

Alexander Skarsgård makes a film with Charli XCX

Feared art theft at Chalmers

Feared art theft at Chalmers

The Kiss in Valencia is the Picture of the Year

The Kiss in Valencia is the Picture of the Year

Bergman doubly awarded at the Manifest Gala

Bergman doubly awarded at the Manifest Gala

Pulitzer Prize-winning composer dead

Pulitzer Prize-winning composer dead

Oasis World Tour Becomes a Film

Oasis World Tour Becomes a Film

The Board for Handicraft Issues is Being Shut Down

The Board for Handicraft Issues is Being Shut Down

Nikki Glaser to Host Golden Globes Again

Nikki Glaser to Host Golden Globes Again

90-year-old Poet Receives Radio's Poetry Prize

90-year-old Poet Receives Radio's Poetry Prize

The successful series "One Tree Hill" is revived

The successful series "One Tree Hill" is revived

Soon Opens Sweden's First Children's Art Hall

Soon Opens Sweden's First Children's Art Hall

Sami Artist Reported for Incitement Against Ethnic Group

Sami Artist Reported for Incitement Against Ethnic Group

Lena Olin makes a comeback on the theater stage.

Lena Olin makes a comeback on the theater stage.

The Film Director Has Made a Success - "Is Completely Genuine"

The Film Director Has Made a Success - "Is Completely Genuine"

The Swede on Netflix criticism: Maybe radioactive

The Swede on Netflix criticism: Maybe radioactive

Johan Glans joins "The Swedish Revue"

Johan Glans joins "The Swedish Revue"

OJ Simpson's belongings are being auctioned off

OJ Simpson's belongings are being auctioned off

Life as Prime Minister – Now as a Children's Book

Life as Prime Minister – Now as a Children's Book

New allegations as Weinstein trial resumes

New allegations as Weinstein trial resumes

Lasse Kronér pays tribute to Taube with a Sweden tour

Lasse Kronér pays tribute to Taube with a Sweden tour

Controversies surrounding "Snow White" – media barred

Controversies surrounding "Snow White" – media barred

Dolly Style on Sweden Tour – for Four Months

Dolly Style on Sweden Tour – for Four Months

Kristersson on KAJ: "Not my musical taste"

Kristersson on KAJ: "Not my musical taste"

The Comeback Continues – A-Teens at Pride

The Comeback Continues – A-Teens at Pride

Kalmar Theatre Forced to Make Cuts

Kalmar Theatre Forced to Make Cuts

TV Star: "Asking the Swedish people for forgiveness"

TV Star: "Asking the Swedish people for forgiveness"

Nobel Laureate Aleksijevitj Visits the Royal Dramatic Theatre

Nobel Laureate Aleksijevitj Visits the Royal Dramatic Theatre

No Putte in the Park Festival This Summer

No Putte in the Park Festival This Summer

This week's film and series – A Swede behind a major film

This week's film and series – A Swede behind a major film

The Star Made 900 People Debt-Free

The Star Made 900 People Debt-Free

The Secret Behind "Love is Blind": "Older"

The Secret Behind "Love is Blind": "Older"

Opera Union: We Are Too Few to Play Wagner

Opera Union: We Are Too Few to Play Wagner