Gifts for teachers banned after collections have gone out of control

Västerås is the latest to introduce the new guidelines, as VLT previously reported. Similar rules also exist in Hallstahammar, Trelleborg and Karlstad.

"Some collections have gone out of control, and donations of quite a high value have been collected," says Erik Liljenskog, chairman of Sweden's Teachers in Västerås, to TV4.

Now it's time to stand your ground and say no, even if a student offers you a gift. But the ban only applies to things that cost money, Liljenskog emphasizes.

"You can write nice things, send an email, or pick a bouquet of flowers from the roadside," he tells TV4.