Sverige

A characteristic feature of the Swedish Folk High Schools is, among other things, their freedom to develop the content and direction of their own courses. This means that they diverge from ordinary schools in many ways. There is no centrally established, standard curriculum for the Folk High Schools, each school makes its own decisions regarding teaching plans within the limits set by a special ordinance.

Folk High Schools offer a unique opportunity to enhance each individual's human resources. The students´experiences of working life and society are put to use, and their contribution is very vital. The schools constitute small, educational societies where each individual makes a difference. Studying in a warm and open environment, working closely with other students and staff stimulates personal growth and development. The traditional freedom of the Folk High School has led to ample experimentation and educational innovation. Problem orientated and thematic studies for longer or shorter periods are quite common.

The overall object of the Swedish Folk High School is to give general civic education. Each year about 27 000 students take part in the long courses. The Folk High Schools receive financial support from the state. A certain interest has been directed towards groups with special educational needs, e.g. people with short basic education, people with various disabilities and immigrants and the unemployed. The minimum age for admission to the general courses is 18 years. There is no upper age limit.

Many different courses

There are many courses to choose from, varying from a couple of days to several years. All Folk High Schools give a General course (Allmän kurs). They are suitable for those who have not completed their secondary education or for those who want to go on to further education. The course content covers a broad spectra of subjects, with social studies, language and science as the main fields. In addition to the general subjects the student may also choose an optional special course such as computing, music, sport, art & design etc.

The majority of the Folk High Schools also offer a wide range of special courses. Among such courses one can mention the aestethic courses (art & design, painting, weaving etc), music, journalism and studies concerning the developing countries. Some schools provide vocational training for various leader categories, e.g. youth- and recreational leaders and drama leaders.

The variety of short courses, mostly during the summer, is also large - music, art & design and creative writing are just a few examples. The courses can be altered from year to year, often in cooperation with various popular movements and organisations.

More information

Map: All the Swedish Folk High Schools (in Swedish)
Index: Folk High Schools in alfabetical order with adresses, telephone numbers etc. (in Swedish)

If you have any questions, please send an mail to: info@folkhogskola.nu, The Information Service of the Swedish Folk High Schools - Folkhögskolornas informationstjänst.