'Coercion does not give students the right support'

Liberal Party leader Simona Mohamsson's proposal to overhaul support for students includes removing parents' veto on diagnostic investigations and support measures, granting principals the authority to initiate such processes without parental consent. This initiative, part of the party's "Slutstökat" (Stop the Mess) school package, also aims to lower the threshold for involving social services. The author, Johanna Lüddeckens, strongly criticizes this approach, arguing that coercion is fundamentally counterproductive to a child's development and success.

Lüddeckens contends that Mohamsson's proposal represents a significant infringement on parental rights and child welfare principles. She points out that mandatory psychological and medical examinations, especially those leading to decisions like placement in adapted primary education, require parental consent under current Swedish law. Furthermore, she notes that psychological evaluations fall under healthcare regulations, which necessitate patient consent according to the Patient Act. The proposal also raises questions regarding the Parental Code, which grants guardians the right and responsibility to make decisions concerning their children's affairs.

The author argues that the Liberal Party's focus on coercion overlooks the real issues hindering student support. Lüddeckens asserts that the problem is not typically reluctant parents but rather a severe lack of resources, extensive waiting lists for assessments, and an overburdened student health service. She believes that addressing these systemic issues requires increased time, expertise, and continuity, not punitive measures. Moreover, Lüddeckens expresses concern about the impact on school principals, suggesting that forcing them to pursue investigations against parental wishes would erode the trust essential for effective support work and damage relationships with families.