Sign up for the editor's
weekly newsletter
- Sweden edition
- Change edition:
- France |
- Germany |
- Norway |
- Switzerland
Reader Offer
February 15, 2012
Many Swedish students failing maths: report
Published: 12 Aug 09 17:05 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/21268/20090812/
More than one in ten Swedish school pupils fall below minimum standards for entering high school, according to new statistics from the Swedish Board of Education (Skolverket).
- Healthy pupil forced to endure special school (12 Aug 09)
- Headmaster fired after Facebook pic scandal (18 Jun 09)
- Education minister clamps down on high school repeats (15 Jun 09)
The new statistics show minor changes on the corresponding figures for 2008 with 88.8 percent of school pupils achieving the passing grades required for high school (gymnasium) entry in the core subjects of Maths, Swedish and English.
"The figure, over 11 percent, would appear high but has largely remained the same for the past decade," Helena Svensson at the board told The Local on Wednesday.
"Over the longer term there has been some decline. Before it was little under ten percent, now it is a little over."
In English 7.1 percent of pupils did not make the grade while in Swedish the figure was 4.1 percent. In Swedish as a second language the figure was 27.5 percent.
The new report is based on preliminary statistics compiled from estimates produced by Statistics Sweden (SCB). Final grades will be published in November.
The board writes that the national statistics hide significant variations between and among school and local municipalities.
"Schools and municipalities are supposed to ensure that pupils are given the support that they need. They get this support, but may be it is not always the right kind of support," Helena Svensson explained.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
Fark It!
Digg This
Share everywhere
Send to a friend
Printable version
Twitter ThisToday's headlines
GOTHENBURG SCHOOL STABBING
Man held for stabbing Swedish 10-year-old
A 28-year-old man suspected of stabbing a young girl in the throat at the beginning of February has been apprehended and is being held in another country pending Sweden's extradition demand. READ (2 COMMENTS) »
Swedish man lay 'dead for weeks' in Lund flat
A man in Lund, southern Sweden, lay dead in his house for weeks before his body was discovered, as visiting care staff had left after the man failed to answer his door. READ (3 COMMENTS) »
Sweden expels foreign official: report
The Swedish government said on Tuesday it has expelled a foreign diplomat, but spokespeople were unwilling to confirm international reports that it was a high level official from Rwanda. READ »
THE LOCAL LIST
Sweden's seven 'sexiest' places explored
On Valentine's Day, The Local invites you on a journey of seduction through Sweden, a country which may be worth probing further when it comes to matters of love. READ (3 COMMENTS) »
Valentine's Day in Sweden - readers' sweet tweets and love stories
With Valentine's day upon us again, The Local called for messages from the star-crossed lovers of Sweden, who sent us their loving letters and sweet tweets in a celebration of love in Sweden. READ (2 COMMENTS) »
Swedish tourist halted for having 'terrorist name'
A Swedish man set to take off on his "dream holiday" to Mexico was turned away before boarding, as flight officials claimed he shared the name of a wanted terrorist. READ (23 COMMENTS) »
Swedish man suspected of 'kidnapping himself'
A 29-year-old man in northern Sweden has been remanded into custody together with an accomplice after trying to extort money from his parents by pretending he had been kidnapped. READ (6 COMMENTS) »
Sweden at ’real risk’ of terror: government
The Swedish Government has penned a new terror strategy, upgrading Sweden’s risk status since the last plan four years ago, calling for an ‘inter-agency cooperation’ in the fight to counter terror in Sweden. READ (13 COMMENTS) »
More Education
- 10/02 Sweden to cut dropout rate by shortening school (26 comments) »
- 10/02 Rape accusations stun Swedish high school (2 comments) »
- 06/02 School rapped over bullying victim's suicide (28 comments) »
- 02/02 Innovative software that helps you expand your vocabulary »
- 01/02 Swedish schools aim to ditch books by 2013 (18 comments) »
- 31/01 Fees bring flurry of 'fake' colleges to Sweden (9 comments) »
- 27/01 Principal stopped kids from getting marks that were 'too low' (8 comments) »
- 26/01 Preschool worker 'locked children in the dryer' (2 comments) »
- 24/01 Students compete to rent Sweden's 'smallest' flat (10 comments) »
- 19/01 Foreign applications to Swedish unis rebound (22 comments) »
20 things to know before moving to Sweden
As diverse as Sweden is, there are a few societal norms that are distinctly Swedish. Understanding a handful of them will hopefully prepare you culturally before you relocate. When you're invited home to a Swede, you better be on time and take your shoes off, writes expat Lola Akinmade-Åkerström. Read more »
How far can English take you in Sweden?
Sweden is a country where almost everyone can speak English. So why bother to learn Swedish? Edina Varnagy from Hungary managed with English for a whole year but then found that Swedish could open doors – to a job, a social life and greater understanding. Read more »
Find a new job in Sweden now
| 14/02 | Build Master Volvo information Technology AB |
Göteborg |
| 14/02 | Application SW Architects/Developers within Product Development Volvo information Technology AB |
Göteborg |
| 14/02 | Purchasing Program Manager Volvo |
Göteborg |
| 14/02 | UX Engineer (.NET) - Limited Contract Monster |
Prague |
| 14/02 | Line Manager Volvo information Technology AB |
Göteborg |
| 14/02 | UX Engineer Monster |
Prague |
Blog Update: Julie's Nordic Island
"The ice dripped in the winter sun. It was the first day when the light had been intense enough to cause dripping in the sunlight. To hear it was an extraordinary wakeup call. The cycle was happening again as it always does, always will (or so we think). I imagined that on my summer island, the bees..." READ »
- 11/2 09:27 Fika Quiz (The Swedish Teacher)
- 10/2 10:47 Reefer Madness (110% LAGOM)
- 07/2 12:55 Queen of Diamonds (The Diplomatic Dispatch)
Highlights
|
|
Swedish word of the day
fin
adjective
Fin means anyhting from sweet to proper. When someone says, Du är så fin it's quite a compliment.
Latest news from The Local in Germany
- 14/02 Merkel pledges more EU sanctions against Syria »
- 14/02 Six little pigs find new mum - a bulldog »
More news from Germany at thelocal.de
Latest news from The Local in Switzerland
- 14/02 Swiss stick with Swedish jets to replace fleet »
- 14/02 Geneva rents: World's 7th most expensive city »
More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch
Latest news from The Local in France
- 14/02 Record year for French wine and spirits exports »
- 14/02 Police turn to France, Facebook in Norway gunman probe »
More news from France at thelocal.fr
Latest news from The Local in Norway
- 14/02 Norway killer and Dutch MP in fictional meeting »
- 14/02 Facebook and France in focus in Breivik probe »
More news from Norway at thelocal.no
Blog
New book about Sweden – get to know the country
Sweden – Up North, Down to Earth is a book about Sweden today. A country of natural beauty and open space, and a society focused on equality, human rights and sustainability. Meet regular and astonishing Swedes, supercars and indie rock bands, vampires and royalties.
Buy your copy of Sweden – Up North, Down to Earth from Sweden Bookshop
In cooperation with DoToday
Register
Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss
Jobs in Sweden, in English
521 jobs available
250 new jobs this week
45 new jobs today
- Financial Controller
- Business Controller
- Technical Sales Service Specialist (m/f)
- Software Engineer - Online
- Data Warehouse Developer for DONG Energy IT
- Build Master
- Line Manager
- Software Engineer - Gameplay/Audio
- Univar recruits Accounting Manager/Financial Controller to be based in Malmö
- Purchasing Program Manager
Noticeboard
- 13/02 Looking for a long term appartment
- 13/02 Babysitter
- 13/02 flat or room available
- 13/02 Party Photographer
- 13/02 Apartment Near Arlanda
- 13/02 Apartment Needed Immediately
Discuss
- 00:00 Need to replace windows
- 23:57 Should I ask her on a date or not?
- 23:48 What is death?
- 23:22 Where to buy cheap wedding rings
- 23:08 Driving on Autobahn
- 22:52 SFI - personal number loop...
- 22:45 E-Mail replies from Swedish Businesses
- 22:13 Where do you live?
- 22:13 Big Fat Gypsy weddings
- 19:17 Upper abdominal pain
Turning Point Counseling
Turning Point Counselling centre offers the international community of Stockholm a safe space for personal development, counselling and coaching.
http://www.turning-point.se/show.asp
Turning Point Counselling centre offers the international community of Stockholm a safe space for personal development, counselling and coaching.
http://www.turning-point.se/show.asp
Swedish Down Town
Swedish Down Town PR Consulting and Productions is an innovative business company which provides valuable assistance with Public Relations and Communications in the swedish and the international market.
www.swedishdowntown.com
Swedish Down Town PR Consulting and Productions is an innovative business company which provides valuable assistance with Public Relations and Communications in the swedish and the international market.
www.swedishdowntown.com
The Local's new Marketplace
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS
English Speaking Therapist Stockholm
British-Australian Male Counsellor. Counselling Therapy for Depression, Mental Health, Sex, Relationship & Expat Issues
08-559 22 636 or CLICK HERE
British-Australian Male Counsellor. Counselling Therapy for Depression, Mental Health, Sex, Relationship & Expat Issues
08-559 22 636 or CLICK HERE
Counseling in English
Individuals & Couples - Stockholm Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now
Individuals & Couples - Stockholm Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now
Doctor of Psychology
Therapy in English in Stockholm Trained in California Individuals & Couples (08) 93 81 48 FREE phone consultation
Visit anxiousorblue.se
Therapy in English in Stockholm Trained in California Individuals & Couples (08) 93 81 48 FREE phone consultation
Visit anxiousorblue.se
Get on the Tennis Court with www.babolatshop.se
The new Online Tennis Store with the largest selection of Babolat Products in Sweden
http://www.babolatshop.se
The new Online Tennis Store with the largest selection of Babolat Products in Sweden
http://www.babolatshop.se
Your comments about this article:
The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.
This is a problem with how maths is taught in Sweden. It's like they learn things by heart (not understanding the what or the how), instead of using their head, which is the basis in mathematics.
I talked with the students and they agree on these facts. Maybe it's time to look back on how maths is taught to find the reasons of the problems of the pupils presented here.
Better understanding is far better than learning harder topics and not fully understanding.
Learning how to solve maths problems doesn't necessarily mean the students understand what they are doing, or realise if they go wrong, for example with division.
The answer I believe is constant reference to real life situations, and if students don't understand, teachers need to spend the time necessary before carrying on.
some of them are students in university, some are scientists, some are irrelevant study holders.....
What shall we expect from the kids when no proper mentor?
Most Swedish parents I know now believe discipline is too lax in Swedish schools and that teaching is now focussed on class control rather than education.
I think my own English comprehension has failed me:
"In English 7.1 percent of pupils did not make the grade while in Sweden the figure was 4.1 percent."
Not a correct parallel comparison.
Another possibility is classroom discipline. Remove authority from teachers and the atmosphere in the classroom degrades to a point where no learning can occur.
Finally, making the Maths reliant to a child's life is very important; learning for the sake of leaning is good provided you have an autonomous learner (www.LearnerAutonomy.com); learning needs immediate relevance for the marginal learner.
Congratulations!!
I do not know what is happening in Sweden, besides the info in the article! Mathematics really fun. In my country, Panama, I learnt algebra (not just 2+2, or whether john blah blah blah, that is arithmetics) in high school.
I have studied it for 2 years in junior high school. Whenever I took "advanced" math and physics courses in senior high (sciences specialty) I notice that it is the same stuff I have learnt in junior high! That is the real trick!
However, last statics reveal that reading and arithmetics are a real mess compared to other Latin American countries. Cuba is the best place to study in elementary or high school in Latin America.
Cuba has a surprinsingly very good education and health care system for a 3rd world country with a 45 yr American boycott. Great scuba diving also.
However a bit of math can develop the brains greatly and highly developed logic is one of the side effects. Now show me one successful person without sense of logic and ability to understand where he/she should invest their efforts.
And Dr. Dillner - math is the basis for IT. It is massive contributor to the understanding of software algorithms, to which is impossible to get without all this "school bull". It is like saying - you are going to be an engineer, so dump math and do "engineering" stuff, where a lot depends on Calculus.