The school will receive new curricula, with increased emphasis on factual knowledge and reading, writing and arithmetic. But the National Agency for Education's work, which began last spring, has been met with harsh criticism. The basis that has been developed is not sufficiently scientifically grounded, and is also not in line with the government's purpose, experts have claimed.
Voices have also been raised to remove the curriculum mandate from the National Agency for Education, or to close down the authority.
“On the right track”
The Swedish National Agency for Education, for its part, has declared that it is strengthening its work on a scientific basis and that a special group will work on this. “We are on the right track,” commented the then Director General of the Swedish National Agency for Education, Joakim Malmström.
But that's not enough, according to Simona Mohamsson (L).
"I am critical of the fact that the work has not fully followed the government's intentions. That is why we are now tightening the governance and ensuring that the authority has the right expertise to complete the mission," she tells TT.
Experts at the center
Specifically, this means that the experts who were part of the Curriculum Review will be given a stronger mandate. They will be offered an “active and central role” in the work and one of the experts will have “special coordinating responsibility”. According to Simona Mohamsson, neuroscientist Martin Ingvar, professor at the Karolinska Institute, will be consulted.
When asked if she has confidence in the National Agency for Education, Simona Mohamsson answers:
I, the government and the agency itself have noted that the National Agency for Education has development potential. But I trust them and see that this is important work for us to be able to build a strong knowledge school.
She further says that she does not foresee a closure of the Swedish National Agency for Education.
The government has no such plans at present.
The Swedish National Agency for Education must report on the curriculum work to the government by June 15.
Facts: Criticism of the National Agency for Education
In a report in November 2025, the National Audit Office criticized the National Agency for Education for not ensuring that its support materials for schools are based on scientific evidence.
The Swedish National Agency for Education does not place sufficient demands on the researchers it hires. The researchers are also given very tight time frames, according to the National Audit Office.
The Swedish National Agency for Education has also been responsible for a technical solution so that all schools in the country can conduct digital national exams.
At the end of last year, the government was forced to postpone the introduction after major technical problems. “A fiasco,” commented Minister of Upper Secondary Education, Higher Education and Research Lotta Edholm (L).
The Swedish National Agency for Education's Director General Joakim Malmström announced in March this year that he was leaving his post. He worked his last day at the agency on Friday.
Sources: National Audit Office and Swedish National Agency for Education.
The new curricula for the compulsory school types (primary school, adapted primary school, special school and Sami school) are to emphasize facts and subject knowledge, rather than analysis and reasoning. This is in response to declining knowledge results.
A clear leadership role for the teacher. Emphasis on reading, writing and arithmetic, especially at younger ages.
Emphasis on adapting teaching to students' age and abilities.
The new curricula are intended to be used from autumn 2028.
Sources: Government Bill 2025/26:194, March 2026
