The state contribution to adult education in Sweden has largely remained constant over the years, whereas municipal contributions have steadily fallen over the last ten years.

“It is extremely depressing that many of Sweden's 290 municipalities are failing to invest in adult education. The study associations are so important for adult learning and group activities in Sweden,” says Maicen Ekman, the Secretary General of the Swedish Adult Education Association.

Liberal adult education in Sweden is conducted through ten nationwide study associations receiving financial support from the state and municipalities. Shaky finances have been a recurrent problem in recent years due to reduced local authority subsidies. Over a ten-year period the municipalities' subsidy has reduced by 25.5 % or 115.9 million Swedish kronor. This represents a reduction of 33.6% in monetary value.

The contribution statements for 2010 also report a clear fall in municipal subsidies compared with previous years. The average adult education contribution per inhabitant currently stands at 36.26 kronor per year.

Calculating the size of the municipal contribution is however complicated and it is difficult to give an exact idea of the situation in adult education. The municipalities use different models to divide their support. In some cases, it is therefore difficult to assess whether the contribution involves general support for the adult education system or whether it is more a case of targeted support for particular groups, projects, etc.

Variations

It is however apparent that there are big variations between the different municipalities. The highest adult education subsidy in the country, 115.61 kronor per person, is given in Eskilstuna, a medium-sized town in the province of Östergötland. Its inhabitants get roughly three times more in adult education subsidies than the national average.

At the same time, 19 Swedish municipalities give no support to adult education at all. 11 of these “zero-subsidy municipalities” are close to the capital in the Stockholm administrative district.

In spite of the generally disheartening picture, the Secretary General of the Swedish Adult Education Association, Maicen Ekman, thinks there is a glimmer of hope for the future:                                                                                             “35 municipalities have still elected to increase their contributions in 2010. We therefore hope that more local politicians will begin to realise the importance of investing in adult education which enables both individuals and society to develop.”