Sweden reports over 850 students missing from schools after summer break

More than 850 students in Sweden have failed to return to school following the summer break, according to a mapping by Sveriges Radio (SR). The investigation, which included responses from 190 municipalities, revealed that half of the responding local authorities have one or more students they cannot contact. In many instances, there are suspicions that the children may have moved abroad.

Juno Blom, the Swedish Children's Ombudsman, has described the situation as ‘incredibly serious.’ Authorities and the Ombudsman have expressed concerns regarding the potential risks these children may face due to the lack of supervision and contact. Municipalities are currently working to reach the families involved to determine the whereabouts of the missing students.