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Swedish city mulls homework ban

The Local Sweden
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Swedish city mulls homework ban
Photo: Mikael Miettinen/Flickr

UPDATED: Homework may be a thing of the past for some Swedish students, as one city aims to do away with all homework starting later this year.

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The city council of Hallstahammar in central Sweden began an investigation on Monday to determine whether or not to abolish homework. 

"Students shouldn’t have to take home their work and burden their parents with it," Christina Aspenryd, chairman of the city's children and education board, told The Local.

"When the students come home they should be free to do what they like."

The homework ban was suggested by the Left Party (Vänsterpartiet), stating that students should learn everything they need during school hours. Aspenryd clarified that students would still be able to do extra work at home if they so desired, but that no homework would be assigned. 

"We are aware that children have very different situations at home," Aspenryd explained. "Some parents are not able to help their children. It’s better that all children get help in the classroom."

Aspenryd added that the investigation will continue this autumn, to determine what resources would be necessary to make such changes.

"We might need to make the school day a bit longer, for instance," she said.

Education Minister Jan Björklund was skeptical about the proposal, arguing that homework was not an issue for city politicians to decide.

"If this proposal is passed, I will take initiative to change school laws so that cities will not be able to butt in and affect this kind of pedagogical decision," Björklund told the TT news agency.

The Local/sr

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