Adult Education as a Demonstrated Government Priority

In Sweden, adult education has been a government priority for a very long time. In the September 2002 national election, the party that promised lower taxes was soundly defeated. Milner (2002) explained that Swedes are actively engaged in the political life of their country and are happy with the quality of community life that they have. The promotion of democratic values and an understanding of the mutuality of responsibility between individual and community are explicit goals of the Swedish education system. National guidelines and funding for adult education have been provided to all municipalities throughout Sweden since 1957 for implementation at the local and regional level. The goal was to compensate those who had been denied high school education because of the old school system. Special programs are offered for immigrants and for those with disabilities. Immigration has become a significant factor over the past twenty years. Regional funding allocations reflect regional needs, e.g., number of unemployed, number of immigrants, regional infrastructure. · One year study leave was available to all workers, starting in 1974; in 1992 this was expanded to include basic education as well as more directly vocational training