Teaching in Sweden with Hanna

In this episode, we take a deep dive into the heart of the Swedish education system through a conversation that is over twenty years in the making. Host Debbie reunites with her long-time friend and fellow educator, Hanna, to compare their teaching experiences across Sweden, New Zealand, and Spain. From the cultural significance of taking your shoes off at the school door to the "school law" that makes education truly free and compulsory for all, they explore how environment and policy shape the student experience.

The discussion moves into the practical challenges facing modern classrooms, including the shift away from digital devices back toward "basics" like pencils and paper. Hanna shares fascinating insights into how her school fosters a culture of radical trust—operating without student lockers or school bells—and how the Swedish government is moving toward a nationwide ban on cell phones to improve student focus and well-being.

To wrap up, the pair discusses the realities of teacher salaries, the complexities of marking national exams, and the unique ways Sweden navigated the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether you are an educator interested in global pedagogy or simply curious about the Swedish way of life, this episode offers a refreshing look at how trust, transparency, and relationship-building remain the most vital tools in any teacher's toolkit.

How does the Swedish approach to "radical trust" in the classroom compare to what you’ve experienced in your own teaching career?

Hosted by Debbie Ross
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Transcript

Host: Debbie
Guest: Hanna
Debbie: Hello everyone. So today we have the privilege of having my friend Hanna on the podcast. We actually met when we were about 19 years old, and we were working as Au pairs in the USA. So fast forward many years, and we've been able to reconnect again a couple of times, and we get to have her on the podcast today. So welcome, Hanna.
Hanna: Thank you so much.
Debbie: So would you like to just tell us a little bit about yourself?
Hanna: Yeah, well, I'm from Sweden. 44 years old, and I've been working as a teacher for about, mm, I would probably say 15 or 16 years.
Debbie: Awesome. And what sparked your interest to become a teacher?
Hanna: That is a really good question. I guess a little bit of our time in the US had to do with that. Taking care of the kids, helping them with their homework and stuff like that. And I kind of had the feeling that I'm pretty good at this. And then it was becoming a nurse or becoming a teacher, but I just realized that I won't be able to work during nights. So...
Debbie: Yeah, that shift work is so hard.
Hanna: Exactly. So, then it was an easy choice.
Debbie: Yeah, very good. And so what level do you teach at—high school, primary, or are you in middle school?
Hanna: Right now, high school. But I've been teaching—is primary the youngest one? Yeah, I've been teaching both primary and middle school, actually, and high school.
Debbie: And what subject do you teach?
Hanna: Swedish.
Debbie: Oh wow. Very good. And what qualifications do you need in Sweden to become a teacher?
Hanna: To become a teacher, I studied for 3.5 years. If you want to work with really older kids—the kids that are finished with compulsory school—you still have like 3 more years that you can do for school. They're not compulsory, but we recommend all the students do that. Then I think it's 5 years of education.
Debbie: Wow. So that's like a doctor. They specialise. And so tell us a little bit more about the education system in Sweden. You were saying to me the other day something about it being free but compulsory?
Hanna: Yeah, exactly. Education in Sweden is supposed to be free for everyone.
Debbie: And that includes private schools too?
Hanna: Exactly. So to go into a private school, you just have to stand in a queue to get your spot. All education in Sweden is supposed to be free. We can't take any charge for food or trips or anything like that. It’s because it's supposed to be for everyone. And we also have a law—it's like a school law—that the learning has to be in the school. If you compare to Finland, they have a learning law. There, you have to learn, but if you do that in school or if you're homeschooled, that's fine.
Debbie: So you don't have the option of doing online learning?
Hanna: No, you don't have the option to do that.
Debbie: So how do you cater for those students who have extra learning difficulties?
Hanna: There is no option to be homeschooled, but if we have students with big anxiety or something like that who can't be out with other people, we can do an application to the head ministers of school—I don't know the English word—but we do an application so we can be allowed to teach this kid via digital means.
Debbie: Oh, you showed me the other day at your school. You have special learning rooms, don't you?
Hanna: Exactly. Our principal has to make a decision that this student needs to be in a smaller group to learn what they need to. It’s not like anyone can just come and go. We have to do a lot of work before that to ensure that you're not supposed to end up there if there's anything else that can help you. It's a really big thing in our education to not be taken away from the classroom.
Debbie: Oh, wow. And then schools in New Zealand, when you're studying to become a teacher, you go out on school placements. Do you do that as well here?
Hanna: Yeah, we do. While we're studying. You're out for a couple of months.
Debbie: Good to get hands-on practice, eh?
Hanna: It is, but I realized when I was studying, some of my friends came back from their learning time and they hadn't really used their time well to prepare. It's not that easy just to go into class and make them listen to you.
Debbie: Yeah. And so how does the system work with relief teaching? If someone's sick, we get relievers in New Zealand that come in.
Hanna: Like a sub? In Sweden, it can be anyone. Just someone from the street.
Debbie: So they don't need to have any qualification?
Hanna: You don't need any qualification or education. Of course, we'll make a background check, but otherwise, nothing.
Debbie: Wow, that's interesting. Definitely very different. In New Zealand, you have to have education and some form of teacher registration.
Hanna: It makes the whole school system a little bit like... well, it questions you. Of course, all your hard work and study as well. But sometimes it's not the educated person that is the best person at being a teacher. That's true. But I really think they should have some education.
Debbie: So I was lucky enough to go to your school yesterday and it was really exciting to see some of the differences between schools in New Zealand, Spain, and Sweden. The thing that struck me the most was, as we arrived at school, taking our shoes off. Would you like to tell our listeners a little bit more about that?
Hanna: It's not like that in all Swedish schools, but it's like that in my school. We wanted it to feel a little bit more like home.
Debbie: So there's these little stands at the front and all teachers and students take off their shoes at the start of the day. And how does that homely atmosphere impact the way your students behave?
Hanna: I guess a little bit of both. We have a little poster right inside our entrance where it says: everyone is unique, everyone has special needs, everyone wants to learn, and everyone is a good person. Those are the four roots where we make all our decisions for students. We have to think that if someone is behaving in a way we don't expect, there is probably a need here we haven't figured out. We know no one wants to behave bad if they could choose. We work a lot with relations.
Debbie: And also the other thing that I thought was interesting was how you don't have any locks on your lockers?
Hanna: Yeah, that is also to show that we trust each other. We respect each other's stuff. Honestly, in 12 years, maybe we had like one or two incidents.
Debbie: Wow, that is actually amazing. It puts the responsibility back on the students. Now, in New Zealand, mainly in high schools, students move between classrooms. I noticed in Spain, the teachers move. How does it work in Sweden?
Hanna: At my school, it's a circus. Everyone moves. I can see that some students would really need their own classroom so they don't have to wonder where they are going or what they are bringing. I would really like to change that, but I understand it's an organizational thing with chemistry rooms and so on.
Debbie: One thing I think you guys cater well for is how the classrooms are set up?
Hanna: Yeah, all the classrooms look the same. And as teachers, we make the seating spots. The kids have the same spot in every classroom. When we start class, we have the spots on the screen. It’s our responsibility to make sure no one has to wonder, "Who am I going to sit with?"
Debbie: I like that. So, in terms of your school day, what time does it start and finish? Do you have bells?
Hanna: No bells. We have all the schedules on the wall in different places. We all start at the same time in the morning, 8:45. That's the only time it's the same for everyone. Then the classes have different lengths—40, 50, or 80 minutes. They finish between 3:00 or 4:00 in the afternoon.
Debbie: And do they have lunch at school?
Hanna: Lunch is free for everyone. The teachers pay just a little amount because they want us to eat with the students to work on our relations with them.
Debbie: Oh, that's so great. Tell us a little bit about technology. Lots of countries are going back to textbooks. What do you guys use?
Hanna: When they start 6th grade, they get a computer they borrow from us. But we see it's harder every year for them to do what they're supposed to. They end up playing or watching YouTube. In my school, we feel we need to go back to books and pencils to help them.
Debbie: Have you found that in Sweden, the level of literacy and numeracy has been affected?
Hanna: It’s the same as the rest of the world. Kids are reading less and writing less. That's why we need to go back to basics. If we forbid homepages, they just find ways around it. So: "Close computers and open your books, please."
Debbie: What are the rules around cell phones in Sweden?
Hanna: Right now, the principal makes the choice. At my school, we are cell phone free. Every morning, the students put their phones in little red boxes by their name, and we lock them in a room all day. Actually, the government made a decision for a law that is coming this summer—there will be no cell phones allowed.
Debbie: That’s what they’ve done in New Zealand. It seems to be working a lot better. Speaking of pay, how do teacher salaries in Sweden reflect the cost of living?
Hanna: I think everyone in Sweden, and the rest of the world, is struggling. Bills increased by like 300% and our salaries increased by maybe 5%? In Sweden, it depends on where you teach. In Stockholm, you earn more than in northern Sweden. It doesn’t make it equal in my point of view.
Debbie: And is there different pay for public or private schools?
Hanna: Pretty much the same. Private schools get their money from the government. They aren't allowed to take money from parents; if they did, the school would get in big trouble.
Debbie: Wow, that's so different. In New Zealand, private schools get funding from parents too.
Hanna: I really like it, though. It gives every child the same opportunity.
Debbie: Awesome. And just to finish off, you mentioned you're studying and working at the moment. What are you studying towards?
Hanna: I'm studying to become a special teacher in reading and writing in Swedish. Helping kids who are struggling. I have one more year to go. It’s 50% online while I work.
Debbie: Good luck! One more question—what happened over COVID here? In New Zealand, we were in lockdowns and teaching online.
Hanna: Since we have this school law, we couldn't really close the schools. For the younger kids, it was pretty much the same. But it was chaotic. If teachers were sick, those who weren't had to take double or triple the students. At the same time, we were trying to provide stuff on the internet for the kids who were home. We were just crying for a year, I think.
Debbie: I don't think anything was ideal in those times. Finally, with regards to exams, do you have national exams?
Hanna: We have national tests in 3rd, 6th, and 9th grade for Swedish, English, and Math. In 9th grade, we also have social studies, science, and a second language.
Debbie: And who marks those? In New Zealand, they often get sent away to be moderated.
Hanna: For national tests, public schools mark them together to make sure no one is correcting their own school. Private schools can choose, but my school chooses to mark them together with the public schools because we don't want to be in our own bubble. We want to be transparent and show we are on board with everyone.
Debbie: That is so important. Well, thank you so much, Hanna, for sharing your experiences. It’s been super interesting. All the best for your study and your future career!
Hanna: Well, thanks for having me. Enjoyed it. 

Disclaimer: This transcript was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, minor inconsistencies or errors in transcription and grammar may occur. For the exact conversation, please refer to the original audio.