Bona folkhögskola in Motala, Sweden, has switched to hybrid teaching to reach students who stay home from school. Students Elliot and Alva, who attend the school's general high school course, previously had difficult school experiences, with Alva dropping out as early as third grade. Alva Ljungberg said it is important to address students who do not come to school, noting she has been a home-sitter in periods since around third grade.
Since 2019, the number of students absent more than half the school time has increased by 50 percent. During the spring term of 2025, over 7,000 children were absent more than half the school time in 35 of Sweden's municipalities. During the pandemic's shift to distance learning, the school saw a significant change, with a group of participants thriving and becoming class stars, according to principal Anneli Dahlqvist.
it is important to address students who do not come to school, noting she has been a home-sitter in periods since around third grade
After the pandemic, the school has found a way where students choose whether to participate in the classroom, remotely, or switch between both options. The principal also reported meeting students who feel a sense of failure, emphasizing that these youths should not feel they are failures or cannot learn.
During the pandemic's shift to distance learning, the school saw a significant change, with a group of participants thriving and becoming class stars
After the pandemic, the school has found a way where students choose whether to participate in the classroom, remotely, or switch between both options
meeting students who feel a sense of failure, emphasizing that these youths should not feel they are failures or cannot learn