Language tuition for immigrants: a cornerstone of Swedish integration policy
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Ministry of Employment Sweden Language tuition for immigrants: a cornerstone of Swedish integration policy Henry Mårtenson Ministry of Employment Division for Integration and Urban Development
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Language tuition for immigrants: a cornerstone of Swedish integration policy. Henry Mårtenson Ministry of Employment Division for Integration and Urban Development. The policy context. Policy aim: Equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities regardless of ethnic and cultural backgrounds - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of Language tuition for immigrants: a cornerstone of Swedish integration policy
Ministry of Employment Sweden
Language tuition for immigrants:
a cornerstone of Swedish integration policy
Henry Mårtenson
Ministry of EmploymentDivision for Integration and Urban
Development
Ministry of Employment Sweden
The policy context• Policy aim: Equal rights, responsibilities and
opportunities regardless of ethnic and cultural backgrounds
• Integration strategy: Enhanced language skills and more adult education opportunities part of coherent integration strategy
• Introduction Act: Language tuition, employment preparation activities and civic orientation compulsory elements of introduction plans
• Swedish for immigrants available for all who do not speak sufficient Swedish
Ministry of Employment Sweden
Swedish for immigrants (SFI)
• Language programme within adult education
• Rights-based approach where the municipalities are obliged to offer SFI to migrants within three months.
• Possible to combine SFI with vocational training, apprenticeships and other education.
• SFI also part of a subsidised labour market programme “step-in” jobs.
• Performance-based bonus to individuals who pass courses within 12 months
Ministry of Employment Sweden
Swedish for immigrants (cont)
CEFR A1 A2 B1 B2
Course A A1- / A1
Course B A1 / A2
Course C A2 / A2+
Course D B1 / B1+
Ministry of Employment Sweden
Some challenges
• Lack of individually tailored courses, especially in smaller municipalities
• Drop-out rates too high, especially in the lower courses
• Many do not complete the SFI courses with a pass
• Low employment rate (36%) one year after completing SFI
Ministry of Employment Sweden
State measures to improve Swedish for Immigrants • Clear targets in the curriculum for SFI
and compulsory national final tests• Increased funding for improving
teachers’ skills and enhanced supervision of teaching in SFI
• More possibilities to combine SFI with employment / vocational training
• State grants for pilot projects aimed at making the courses more flexible and targeted towards individual needs
• Government Enquiry on SFI
