Sweden sees record rise in high‑school study‑grant withdrawals due to truancy

Swedish statistics show a sharp increase in the number of upper‑secondary students losing their study grants because of excessive unauthorised absence. Nationwide, about 43,600 students – 11.8% of all gymnasium pupils – had their grants withdrawn, the highest figure on record. In Södertälje, 618 students (16.9%) lost their grants, the highest municipal rate in eleven years, while Nykvarn saw 46 students (8.7%) affected.

Local data reveal similar spikes: in Mullsjö, 11.6% of pupils had grants withdrawn, and the share in the neighbouring municipality of Habo was 4.2%. Private (independent) schools consistently show higher withdrawal rates than municipal schools, with some municipalities reporting nearly 30% of private‑school students losing aid. Boys are more likely than girls to be affected, and the rise is most pronounced among third‑year students.

CSN analyst Peter Engberg attributes the trend to stricter reporting procedures introduced in 2012/13 and an actual increase in unauthorised absenteeism, noting that “the proportion of students losing grants has almost doubled since the current rules were implemented.”