Sweden: Swedish only policy investigated

Sweden's Ombudsman against Ethnic Discrimination is starting an investigation into a school in southern Sweden that has banned the use of any language other than Swedish.

The move followed months of problems at the Gustaf Adolf School in Landskrona, a community with racial tensions. The anti-immigrant

Sweden Democrat party received almost one vote in four in the recent elections, while almost half the students at the school have immigrant backgrounds.

Students have been forbidden to speak any language other than Swedish anywhere in the school, including the playground. The school's principal has defended the move, saying students might think they have been insulted if they hear conversations in languages they don't understand.

The ombudsman's office says they haven't received any formal complaints, and are launching the investigation on their own. There have also been two police complaints from the public against the ban.

Source: Radio Sweden (English)

See also: Sweden: School moves to Swedish only policy

No comments: