In this bonus episode of Sweden in Focus, we speak to the Social Democratic former education minister Anna Ekström about Nordic 'folk high schools', budget cuts to study associations, worsening segregation in Sweden's schools, why boys are underperforming, and whether Sweden needs more external grading.

In Saturday’s episode, the former government minister talked about ‘folkbildning’ as a particularly Nordic approach to education. 

Here we continue the conversation as Anna Ekström talks about her roles within the ABF study association, the history of the wider folkbildning movement, and the challenges faced today by the Swedish education system. 

Host Paul O’Mahony is also joined by The Local’s James Savage and Becky Waterton.

Here are links to some related stories, starting with Richard Orange‘s recent article on his own experience with the ABF study association:

• Why Sweden should protect its fantastic popular education organisations

Budget cuts to folkbildning

• Sweden still ‘a land of possibilities’ for foreigners says finance minister

School segregation 

• LISTEN: How can Sweden make its schools less segregated?
• ARCHIVE: What’s behind the rising inequality in Sweden’s schools, and can it be fixed?

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