Sweden's New Education Law Restricts Confessional Schools and Home Schooling

Yesterday's Washington Times reports that a new education law enacted in Sweden last month will limit both home schooling and religious practices in "Confessional schools." The aim of the new law is to make schools across Sweden more uniform in offering a comprehensive and objective education. Home schooling will be banned other than in exceptional circumstances such as health reasons of distance from a school. The law also requires Sweden's religious schools to follow the same curriculum as secular schools and requires them to make all religious activities, including prayer and chapel services, optional. It is expected that families will challenge the new law in Swedish and European courts.