Billions for teacher salaries "expensive and ineffective"

The National Audit Office has reviewed the two state investments career services and the teacher salary increase which were introduced in 2013 and 2016 respectively.

With a career position, a teacher can advance to pre-service teacher, with a salary increase of at least SEK 5,000 a month. Teacher salary increases of an average of SEK 2,500–3,500 can go to teachers who are seen as "especially qualified".

The investments are unique in the Swedish labor market and the governments' motivations were to raise the status of the teaching profession, attract more people to the profession and keep more skilled teachers in the classrooms.

But the goals have not been met, the National Audit Office sums up in its review.

It is true that around four out of ten in the teaching profession have received a share of the billions, but the profession has not become more popular. Interest in teacher training programs has not increased and the percentage who leave the profession to work elsewhere remains at the same level.

- We are not saying that the money is wasted. They would have been if they hadn't even ended up with the teachers. But they have not succeeded in reaching the overall goals, and that is the problem, says Vivika Halapuu.

The idea was also that schools with difficult conditions would find it easier to recruit experienced and seasoned teachers. But the pre-service teachers at these schools still have shorter professional experience than at other schools, as the recruitment was done internally.

The National Audit Office points to several weaknesses in the system. One is that many pre-service teachers receive a time-limited position.

- In the interviews, the principals say that they employ pre-service teachers to solve current problems. It does not create a clear path in a career development.

Linked to that is the employers' uncertain conditions – they do not know if or when the state's money will be withdrawn.

The National Audit Office calls on the government to see if there are other ways to strengthen the attractiveness of the teaching profession.

- We cannot comment on what it could be, but teachers themselves raise, for example, workload and other work environment issues. You should also find out what affects the group that chooses not to become a teacher, says Vivika Halapuu.