Parents in Strängnäs, Sweden, have formed a network to address what they describe as unusually high school absenteeism in the municipality. According to a report from SVT Sörmland, the parent network was initiated by Malin Trygg, a mother of an eight-year-old son with high absenteeism rates.
Trygg reportedly started the initiative by posting in a local Facebook group in Mariefred, seeking other parents in similar situations. "The response was large and came quickly. It became clear that there is a great need among parents to find others in similar situations," Trygg told SVT.
The response was large and came quickly. It became clear that there is a great need among parents to find others in similar situations.
The parent network currently consists of approximately 30 parents with children in both municipal and independent schools within Strängnäs municipality. As part of the initiative, Trygg also started a chat group where parents can share experiences with each other.
Parents in the network are calling for the municipality to take greater responsibility for children's school attendance. Trygg argues that schools and municipalities need to take more responsibility for the issue, stating that the current school system is "obviously losing many children along the way."
obviously losing many children along the way.
According to SVT, there is a shared responsibility for school attendance between parents, municipalities, and schools, but the parent network believes municipal authorities should play a larger role in ensuring all students have the opportunity to attend school.