Dagens industri: Criticism of proposal to limit English in schools

In a recent column for Dagens industri, PM Nilsson, CEO of the Timbro think tank, refutes political proposals aimed at restricting English as a language of instruction in Swedish schools. Nilsson argues that the reaction from politicians, including Liberal party leader Simona Mohamsson, stems from a recent report by the Swedish Schools Inspectorate and represents a misguided move towards "language nationalism." Nilsson specifically defends Internationella Engelska Skolan (IES), highlighting its success as a Swedish innovation characterized by strong academic results and a valuable international environment for students. He contends that the current political climate threatens this popular and beneficial educational model. Rather than hindering schools like IES, Nilsson urges politicians to support Sweden's international competitiveness, which is enhanced by widespread English proficiency. He concludes that the primary threat to the Swedish language originates from deficiencies within the regular school system, not from English-language instruction.