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Apply for mother tongue instruction

Vill du att ditt barn ska få undervisning i sitt modersmål? I den här guiden får du veta vem som har rätt till modersmålsundervisning, hur du ansöker och hur undervisningen fungerar i praktiken.

Updated:

Please note that all forms and digital applications (e-services) are currently in Swedish. Contact Citizen Service if you need help in English.

1. What is mother tongue instruction?

Mother tongue instruction is a voluntary school subject for students in compulsory school and compulsory special school who have a mother tongue other than Swedish. The subject follows its own curriculum and grades are given from year 6. The purpose is to strengthen the student’s language, identity, and learning. A strong mother tongue also supports learning in other subjects and in Swedish.

Students who belong to the national minorities (Finnish, Meänkieli, Sami, Yiddish, and Romani Chib) have special rights and do not need to speak the language at home or be at least five students to receive instruction – as long as there is a qualified teacher available.

2. Who is entitled to mother tongue instruction?

  1. For languages that are not minority languages, the following applies:
  • At least one guardian speaks the language.
  • The student uses the language regularly at home.
  • The student has basic knowledge of the language.
  • At least five students in the municipality apply for the same language.
  • A qualified teacher is available.

For national minority languages, it is enough that the student wants to study the language and that a teacher is available.

3. How to apply

  1. Contact your child’s mentor or school to receive an application form or information about a possible e-service.
  2. Fill in details about the language, the student’s knowledge, and language use at home.
  3. The school makes an initial assessment and forwards the application to the Central Admission for Newly Arrived Students (CMN).
  4. If the student is already participating in mother tongue instruction, no new application is required for the next school year.
  5. To discontinue instruction, submit a withdrawal via form or e-service to the school or CMN.

Apply well in advance of the new school year.

4. How does the instruction work?

  • Instruction usually takes place after school hours but can also be scheduled as a language option or school option in years 6–9.
  • Instruction can take place at the student’s own school, at CMN, or together with students from other schools.
  • If no teacher is available on-site, instruction may be offered through distance teaching.
  • The subject can be studied for up to 7 years during compulsory schooling, longer in special cases or for minority languages.

5. Grading

  • From year 6, students receive grades in mother tongue.
  • The grade is included in the student’s merit value for upper secondary school admission.
  • The grade can be used as one of the 16 best grades.

6. Short checklist

  1. Contact mentor/school.
  2. Fill in and submit the application.
  3. The school assesses and forwards to CMN.
  4. Instruction is planned – no new application is required each year.
  5. Withdraw if needed.

7. Why choose mother tongue instruction?

  • It strengthens the child’s self-esteem and cultural identity.
  • It supports learning in Swedish and other school subjects.
  • It prepares the student for future studies and work in a multilingual society.

Do you want to access a specific document? Contact Citizen Service, and we will help you retrieve and read the full document.

contact

Citizen Service

E-mail: kommunen@boden.se

Phone: +46 921 620 00