Swedish language turns 500, but literacy is declining

Sweden is marking 500 years since the first printed Swedish New Testament, a pivotal moment that established a unified Swedish written language. However, this milestone is overshadowed by a concerning trend: literacy rates in Sweden are declining for the first time ever.

Author Patrik Hadenius argues that this decline is linked to pressing societal problems. Individuals struggling with language proficiency face greater barriers to education, employment, and civic participation. Beyond practical implications, poor language skills hinder mutual understanding and diminish the richness of personal experience.

While politicians recognize the problem, their responses have been criticized as insufficient. Hadenius points to initiatives like citizenship language tests as examples of short-sighted or populist measures. He contends that implementing such tests without providing adequate learning opportunities is cynical and exclusionary, akin to testing math skills without teaching the subject first.

The article highlights long-standing issues with Swedish for Immigrants (SFI) education, citing a 2022 report that revealed significant deficiencies in governance, monitoring, and equitable access. Hadenius stresses the urgent need for a comprehensive approach to improve language education and elevate the status of Swedish and other languages within the country.