Documentation and reporting – often in time-consuming digital systems – is the largest source of stress among teachers, the government has stated.
Many teachers testify to an unreasonable work environment. Many feel a frustration over not being able to help children in the way that is needed. It is absolutely central that we get rid of unnecessary administration, says Minister of Education Lotta Edholm (The Liberals) at a press conference.
One conversation per academic year
It has been investigator Bo Jansson's task to propose suggestions on how to reduce the administrative burden. Among other things, it is proposed that "continuous information" about the student's development be changed to information "at times chosen by the school".
Furthermore, development conversations with parents will become fewer, since they require so much preparation. Today, one conversation per term in primary and upper secondary school applies.
In normal cases, one development conversation per academic year will be sufficient, says Bo Jansson.
The investigation also proposes changes to the rules regarding offensive treatment, so that the focus becomes on noticing and acting rather than documenting and reporting.
Today, everything must be reported, big or small. We see that too much time is spent on it, rather than preventing and acting when incidents occur, says Bo Jansson.
650 hours
He has also been tasked with proposing how teachers' teaching time can be regulated. How large a part of working hours should go to teaching, including planning and follow-up, has not been regulated since 1995. Since then, the proportion of teaching time has increased, resulting in all other tasks – from paperwork to further education – having to be squeezed into less time.
Bo Jansson proposes intervals for teaching time. Up to year 6, teachers are proposed to have a maximum of 650 teaching hours per academic year.
The main rule is that there should be at least as much time for planning as teaching time, i.e., one teaching hour corresponds to one hour of planning and follow-up, says Jansson.
The investigation's proposals are welcomed by the Swedish Teachers' Union.
If we agree that our children and young people deserve a good start in life, this is where we must begin. National regulations are crucial for creating a sustainable work environment for teachers. The individual teacher regains control over their own work, says union chairperson Anna Olskog.
550–650 hours for teachers in preschool class and primary school years 1–6.
500–600 hours for teachers in upper secondary school.
450–550 hours for teachers in upper secondary school, with the exception of upper secondary school teachers who teach in character subjects with a vocational profile. For them, 450–650 hours apply.
Source: SOU 2025:26
