Swedish municipalities push school reforms as exam pass rates fall

In Härnösand, the Christian Democrats argue that too many pupils leave compulsory school without basic skills. They call for higher expectations, early support for struggling students, reduced administrative duties for teachers, more special‑education staff and a zero‑tolerance stance on classroom disorder, saying better schooling will improve the town’s future prospects.

In Karlskrona, the Social Democratic opposition proposes a “Grundskolelyft” after pass rates fell from 80 % in 2021 to 67.8 % in 2026, with one local school dropping to 51 %. Their plan includes capping class size at 12 in lower grades, strengthening order and safety in classrooms, introducing breakfast programmes for secondary pupils, allocating resources according to need and abolishing the failing grade “F”. Both parties stress that stronger schools are essential for employment opportunities and social cohesion.