Student rights

Information from the Folk High School Student Rights Council (FSR)

The folkhögskola is guided by objectives to, for example, contribute to participation, engagement and a democratic development of society. The schools decide for themselves how to design their activities. The Education Act does not apply to folkhögskolor and there are no national curricula. The government grants that the schools receive to run their operations are distributed by the Swedish National Council of Adult Education (Folkbildningsrådet). The schools must also comply with the National Council of Adult Education's government grant conditions, where learner rights are an important part.

Every folkhögskola must have written rules concerning student rights where you as a participant can read about, for example, the handling of complaints, disciplinary measures and participant influence. At a folkhögskola, the board has ultimate responsibility for the school and the education. For you as a student, this means that the school board makes many of the decisions that affect your situation and your rights at the school. The Council for Student Rights at Folk High Schools, FSR, exists to strengthen the legal position of everyone studying at a folkhögskola.

Below you can read more about how FSR works and how we can help you as a participant when you are dissatisfied with your situation or have come into conflict with the school.

The first thing you should do is to contact the head teacher of the school. If the head teacher makes a decision that you think is wrong, you should contact the board of governors in the first instance. If you are still dissatisfied once the school board has also ruled on the matter, you can refer your case to FSR. Please note that all notifications and messages received by FSR become public documents. They may therefore be disclosed in accordance with the principle of public access to official documents.

What issues can you report?

The following matters can be referred to FSR:

• your course does not live up to what the school promised
• the school's handling of complaints
• the school's handling of disciplinary measures, such as formal warnings, suspension and expulsion
• lack of information about fees, inadequate study guidance
• lack of follow-up on the study plan
• lack of communication regarding study results
• the school's procedure if a course is discontinued or cancelled
• lack of student participation and learner rights.

It is not possible to appeal awarded study grades to the FSR or to any other body outside the school. The option to refer matters to the FSR only applies to you if you are taking a course that is longer than 15 days.

The application must have reached FSR no later than one year after you left school.

What happens after a report is filed?

It is the folk high school's board that is responsible for the activities at the school and decides which rules shall apply. Therefore, FSR proceeds from the folk high school's own rules and procedures when assessing a case. FSR can never change the school's decision, but instead we provide recommendations to the school.

Read more on the Swedish National Council of Adult Education's website: www.folkbildningsradet.se/fsr

Regulations for student rights at Saint Ignatios
There is a student council at the school. The student council consists of course participants from all the school's courses and also has its own budget per academic year. The school's course participants also have the opportunity to make their voices heard at class councils and unit meetings. Meetings are held weekly or as needed at the residential accommodations. The school's course participants have a representative on the school board and in decision-making bodies.

Complaint
First contact is made with the class teacher. After that with the head teacher. If this does not work, the principal is contacted, then the school board and then FSR for advice.