EARLALL -Seminar on Liberal Adult Eduaction Britten Månsson-Wallin Secretary General

1. EARLALL -Seminar on Liberal Adult Eduaction Britten Månsson-Wallin Secretary General Folkbildningsrådet The Swedish National Council of Adult Education www.folkbildning.se

2. What is ´folkbildning´? • Folkbildning: The liberal non-formal and voluntary eductional system in Sweden comprised of • Folk High Schools (148) • Study associations (9 national organisations with some 260 local departments) • Folk High Schools • Schools for adults (over 18) run by NGO´s or county councils • Long and short courses on various levels, 50%< qualify for university studies • Each school has its own board and profile • Each term around 100,000 participants (27,000 long courses)

3. Decree on Government Subsidy for Liberal Adult Education • The conditions for government grants to liberal adult education are stated in the ”Decree on Government Subsidy for Liberal Adult Education”. • The aims of the government subsidy: • furthering activities that empower women and men to shape their lives and create commitments for taking part in developing society • strengthening and developing democracy • Broadening cultural interest in society, increasing participation in cultural life and furthering the enjoyment of cultural events and people’s own creativity

4. The Government Bill for Liberal Adult Education 2006 ” Learn, Grow, Change” • The goverment’s focus: Democracy, lifelong learning and personal development • The government promotes 7 fields of action: • Valuing learning • The challenges of the multicultural society • The demographic challenge • The lifelong learning • Cultural activity • People with disabilities • Public health, sustainable development and global justice

5. General courses (1-3 years) – a way to qualify for Higher Education • Students/participants • not completed their secondary education • special educational needs; • Short basic education • Various disabilities • Immigrants with special needs • Study assessment achieved at FHS • an overall assessment of their aptitude for studies (excellent study aptitude,very good, good or poor)

6. Special courses (1-2 years) – - a way to deepen your interest - to get vocational education • Various educational levels • Aestetic subjects, environmental studies, subjects relating to developing countries… • Journalist, youth leader programmes…

7. History of Folk High Schools(FHS) • 1868 3 Folk High Schools Farmer´s need of education, political ambitions • 2009 148 Folk High Schools all over the country 2 test FHS-projects for Romanies and Muslims A central concept has always been - everyone´s right to knowledge, development and to influence societal development (to become an active citizen)

8. What is Folkbildningsrådet ? The Swedish National Council of Adult Eucation • A non-profit association with certain authoritative tasks delegated by the Government and the Parliament • Three members: • The Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SKL) • The Interest Organisation for Popular Movement Folk High Schools (RIO) • The Swedish National Federation of Study Associations (Fbf)

9. The Swedish National Council of Adult Education • Distributes government grants to study associations and folk high schools • Tries appliances from new study associations and folk high schools • Evaluates and follows up folkbildning activities according to the Decree on Government Subsidies to Folkbildning • Submits budgetary documentation and annual reports to the government

10. Governmental subsidies 2009to 148 Folk High Schools • 1 540 000 000 Sv kr Subsidies from Regions and County councils • 528 000 000 Sv kr (2008)

11. Thank you ! Good luck with-liberal adult education -popular education -non formal adult education -adult learning activities in your country !