Response to interpellation 2025/26:152 on the financial situation of study associations and the consequences for cultural infrastructure
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
The debate concerns the financial situation of the study associations and the consequences for the culture's infrastructure. L believes that adult education is a cornerstone of democracy and that the government invests a lot of money in it 1 2. L argues that one gets a lot for the allocated funds 2 and that the responsibility for financing is shared, where municipalities and regions must take their responsibility as their contributions have decreased significantly 3 4. L believes it is necessary to consider other contributors because the funding from municipalities and regions has decreased 2. C argues that the cuts in the state grant damage the culture's infrastructure and hit the countryside harder than the large cities 5. C believes that the government has stepped wrong and that adult education is important to prevent crime and break loneliness among the elderly 6.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Gymnasie-, högskole- och forskningsministern Lotta Edholm (L)
Madam Speaker! Catarina Deremar has asked me if I have taken the initiative for analyses of the consequences of the cuts for student unions and the cultural infrastructure, if I intend to take measures to counteract inequality between rural areas and large cities when it comes to access to culture, and if I have initiated an analysis of the long-term effects for free and voluntary folk education.
Let me begin with the financial situation of the study associations. Folkbildningen is based on a shared responsibility where the state, regions, and municipalities contribute together. The state grant is important, but the activities are also largely financed by municipalities, regions, sponsors, and participant fees. According to the report At the end of the road? by the Folkbildningsrådet, Studieförbunden i samverkan, and Svensk biblioteksförening, the public grants to the study associations have moved from an equal distribution between on one hand the state and on the other hand municipalities and regions to a heavy overweight towards the state.
Furthermore, we must remember that study associations, like many other actors, have operated during a period characterized by a pandemic, international crisis, and economic recession. The aforementioned report states that these factors have affected both participation and demand, as well as the municipalities' financial conditions. This makes it difficult to determine with certainty what has influenced the development most in different municipalities. Taken together, this means that the report provides an important picture of the current situation, but more systematic and independent analyses are required before we draw far-reaching conclusions about the development and its effects.
The government has assessed that the folk high school and other areas within education policy need to be prioritized in a recession. In the budget bill for 2026 (prop. 2025/26:1), the government proposes investments specifically for the folk high school, particularly for persons with disabilities and for language-strengthening measures for persons who have jobs but who need to be better able to speak Swedish. Additionally, the government proposes that the possibility for persons from the age of 16 to attend a study-motivating course at a folk high school be extended from three to six months for those who need language support.
When it comes to the culture's infrastructure, the report shows that the cuts have been greatest in rural municipalities regarding both the study associations' premises and the public libraries' branches. It is a worrying development, and I share the view that culture, education, and meeting places must exist throughout the entire country. At the same time, it is the study associations themselves that decide where they conduct their activities.
Regarding the long-term effects, the government follows the development through the Folkbildningsrådet's annual assessment of the scope and geographical distribution of the activities. It is still too early to draw firm conclusions about the long-term effects.
In conclusion, I want to emphasize that free and voluntary folk education is a cornerstone in the work of building our democracy and our society strongly, and the government will continue to follow the developments in a responsible manner.
Catarina Deremar (C)
Madam Speaker! Thank you, Minister, for the answer!
During 2024, a three-year reduction of the state grant to study associations was initiated, a reduction totaling 500 million kronor. Already during the first year, the consequences have become clear. The number of study circles and other arrangements has decreased by 14 percent, and rural municipalities have been hit harder than the large cities. It can also be noted that there have been fewer employees at study associations, which among other things has led to a reduced number of cultural events held. In the rural municipalities, the activity has decreased twice as much as in the large cities.
The report *Vid vägs ände?* from Studieförbunden in collaboration with several report writers shows that these cuts do not only affect the study associations but the entire cultural infrastructure. Study premises have been closed, and cultural programs have disappeared. Furthermore, the opportunities for folk education for persons with large or special needs have decreased. It is particularly serious in a time when democratic participation, lifelong learning, and cultural diversity should be strengthened and not weakened.
That is why I have asked the minister whether any initiatives have been taken to conduct an analysis of what negative consequences the cuts in the state grant to the student unions risk bringing to the culture's infrastructure and if the minister, in that case, can account for the results of those analyses. We have heard the answer.
I want to begin, Madam Speaker, by praising the government for the investments in the folk high schools. It is close to my heart, and we know that it helps people who are far from the labor market. They can get a foot in the door that way, and therefore the folk high schools are important. It is positive. But we also see this reduction in study associations, not least from a democratic perspective.
The countryside is hit harder because the study associations take their responsibility and try to live within the budget they have been given, so to speak. It is clear that they then look at external costs, which includes, among other things, replica venues or other premises that are cost-driving for the study associations.
In conclusion, in the response we heard that popular education is a cornerstone in the work of building our democracy. If one now sees that it is beginning to creak in the joints of these cornerstones, is the government then willing to take measures? Does the minister then see a restoration of the grants to the study associations as a solution?
Gymnasie-, högskole- och forskningsministern Lotta Edholm (L)
Madam Speaker! I thank you for very important questions.
Popular education is important in Swedish society. It provides opportunities for people to broaden their knowledge and opportunities for people who are far from the labor market to, for example, attend a folk high school. I think it is quite obvious that more of those who are far from the labor market should be able to get a place there. We also see that many young people who have had it quite difficult in Swedish school can get a place in the folk high schools. That is why it is important with this extended time limit for those who have turned 16.
At the same time, it is the case that the responsibility for popular education is shared. It is not only the state that is responsible for the funding; it is also, among others, municipalities and regions. Over the last 20 years, the regional and municipal contributions have decreased from approximately 45 percent of the total budget to 30 percent. I believe that we must engage in a dialogue with municipalities and regions to hear how they view their funding responsibility. Therefore, I intend to invite SKR for a dialogue on these issues.
The report referred to is very solid. It should be said that, in addition to study associations and folk high schools, it also concerns public libraries. What we see is of course concerning, but it is the study associations themselves – not the state – that decide where they want to have their activities. I think it is a good arrangement that the study associations themselves decide where they want to have their activities; the state cannot step in and regulate that.
In summary, I would like to say that the study associations and the folk high schools have an enormously important function in our society. However, it is not only the state that is responsible for the funding, but others as well. They must also take their responsibility.
Catarina Deremar (C)
Madam Speaker! I thank the Minister for the answer.
Not just once have the government's representatives pointed out, even here in the Riksdag, that one cannot interfere with what the student unions do with their money. I do not want that either. I think it is extremely important that one always emphasizes an arm's length distance to culture and its activities. The same applies to free and voluntary folk education.
It sounds positive that the Minister intends to invite SKR. I believe it is important. We must also remember that the participants themselves are major payers to the study associations' activities. They paid a total of 567 million kronor in participation fees during 2024; that is no small amount. There are, therefore, many who are willing to pay to educate themselves in their spare time.
However, there are many who are calling for study associations. The latest example comes from the government's investigators regarding the cultural canon. It is the schools and the study associations that are to keep the cultural canon alive so that it can have an effect. In that case, it becomes a bit strange that the government is simultaneously reducing the grant to the study associations.
There is also a part that is very important to take care of, namely the infrastructure for cultural events around the country. These are the study associations and the people's libraries that exist in every municipality in our entire country. In times of crisis of various kinds, we have seen that study associations have quickly adapted and been able to reorganize their activities so that one has truly gotten bang for the buck. I am thinking, among other things, of Svenska från dag ett.
In this interpellation debate, it is also worth highlighting the study associations' ability to reach out to groups with special needs. I am thinking, among other things, of Studieförbundet Vuxenskolan, which has had a project with Mitt val. It is a method that both makes it accessible how one votes and makes politics in our society accessible for persons with intellectual disabilities. With this material, one gains knowledge of how our society is governed and how it functions in large, which one benefits from in their everyday life.
There is another part that I want to point out and which concerns me. Studieförbunden are a major source of the results here. I am talking about the Swedish musical miracle. We must see what the report Vid vägs ände? points out. Rehearsal spaces have been closed. This will be noticed in the Swedish musical miracle, even if it might not be noticed this year or next year.
Who is it then that gets access to these rehearsal rooms? Probably not those who need it most. Imagine if a notice were to come that 15 percent of our sports facilities would be closed down! That would not be feasible, because it would hit grassroots sports and eventually our elite efforts. The rehearsal room is for the music-interested young guy or girl, just as the football pitch is for Alexander Isak or Kosovare Asllani, regardless of whether one grows up in Vimmerby or in Sollefteå.
Gymnasie-, högskole- och forskningsministern Lotta Edholm (L)
Madam Speaker! Sweden has undergone – and is still undergoing – a steel bath. It is quite obvious. We have had a pandemic. A war is ongoing. We have had an inflation that is now subdued. That is of course good, but many parts of society have had to make some savings – so has education.
The government is investing heavily in adult education. It is also important to point out that we are investing specifically in extra funds for the folk high schools. They fulfill a very important function, not least for helping people who are far from the labor market.
The state needs to make priorities; one cannot always promise everything to everyone. I think the report is very interesting in various ways. It shows, as I said earlier, that there are also other stakeholders who are important for the funding. These actors must also take their responsibility if they think that public education is important.
I believe that adult education plays an important role in society. Of course, it is good that many people pay fees to the activities – it strengthens the activities and makes them more independent in relation to state and municipal grants. It is, however, important that one focuses on those who have the absolute greatest needs for the different types of activities within adult education.
Catarina Deremar (C)
Madam Speaker! I thank the Minister again for the answer.
It is good that both the Minister and I are passionate about folk education – when I hear the Minister say that this is an important activity, I still want to listen to that. Folk education is also something that, in these restless times, actually binds us together and can strengthen Swedish society. Therefore, I think it is unfortunate that the government has stepped so wrong in this issue. We have an established infrastructure. Are we now going to take it apart in order to then build up something else? I wonder what that could be.
This is a well-established and well-known part of our society. There is no doubt that folkbildningen (popular education) has been involved in building up the democracy we have in our country. I believe that folkbildningen can be a salvation in many parts, not least regarding the prevention of crime and regarding ensuring that young people do not end up in criminality. This is an issue that has engaged the government very much. It is good, but it cannot just be that we are to devote ourselves to methods of punishment. We must have something preventive. Here, the community centers, folkbildningen, and civil society play a major role.
Even when it comes to breaking the loneliness of the elderly, popular education and study associations are a large and important part. There are fantastic programs for our seniors where one is constantly familiarizing oneself with the latest research or with some language that one wants to learn. It can also be about countries that one wants to travel to.
This is, therefore, a prioritization. I regret that the government has come to this conclusion, but I hope that the minister takes these points into account and ensures that a change is made.
Gymnasie-, högskole- och forskningsministern Lotta Edholm (L)
Madam Speaker! Folkbildningen is important. It is a very special form that has existed in Sweden for many years. I think it is important to safeguard it, but it is important to put this a bit into perspective.
The state grant to the study associations is proposed to amount to 1.5 billion kronor for 2026, which is a reduction from 1.6 billion kronor from one year to the next. The state grants to the folk high schools are approximately 2.5 billion kronor. The state is therefore investing a total of around 4 billion on popular education. That is a lot of money.
I would say that we get quite a lot for that money, so it is well-allocated money. It is not the case that the state is not investing much in popular education, because we actually do, and we should be proud of that. We must, however, start thinking about the other contributors to this activity. Municipalities and regions have gone from financing almost half of the activity to today being down to approximately 30 percent. It is perhaps not reasonable that we just watch that development happen, and therefore I look forward to having a dialogue with SKR regarding these important issues.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.