SFI – Swedish for immigrants

SFI – a basic education in the Swedish Language

The goals of the sfi program are that students will develop

- their ability to read and write Swedish

- their ability to speak, converse in, read, listen to and understand Swedish in different contexts

Who can study SFI?

- adults (from 1/7 the year you are 16 years old)

- people who don’t have the basic course before

- you need a national registration and a Swedish ”person nummer” ( social security number)

- people from Norway and Denmark are not allowed to study SFI

SFI – Swedish for immigrants

Each community is responsible for SFI, to see that each person who comes to Sweden will have information about the education.

When you have applied for SFI you have the right to start within three months.

SFI – education in Malmö

Vägledningscentrum is responsible for SFI-registration

If you are new in Sweden (except EU/EES Citizen):

- Contact Invandrarservice: here you will get information about the Swedish society. Obligations and rights.

- EU/EES can apply as soon as they have a Swedish ”person nummer”

How do you apply

Visit the career centre in person to meet a career counselor Make a mapping of earlier studies and/or work Information about an evaluation of exams Information about an evaluation of work qualifications and

validation Who need to make a “merit portfölj” (portfolio), information is

sent to the school Find a suitable school The meeting resolves in an individual study plan including

future goals and intermediate goals written together with the career counselor

Meet a teacher who will determine suitable study level and what amount of hours that are needed

Different levels of Swedish for immigrants

SFI diploma

B 600 h C 500 h D 400 h

A 800 h B 600 h C 500 h

0-6 years of school 7-12 years of school 13 years of school of more

SWOT - Strength

A goal is drawn up at the first meeting. The applicant knows how much time and what subjects that are

needed to reach the goal The applicant uses the “ merit porfölj” to draw up a document

that describes his or her skills. This document can lead to a validation of skills or a document written in Swedish that describes your work qualifications. Good when you apply for a job. A shorter way to work

The first contact with VLC is made and it is easier to return to ask about studies and job

The individual study plan is good to have when the applicant is in contact with other authorities

SWOT - Weaknesses

The individual study plan made at the first meeting must be kept “alive” or else it is useless.

The computer system that the study plan is written in is out- of- date and can’t be used by the private schools or teachers, so all information must be changed into another system and can be lost in the process

All authorities have different computer systems due to secrecy rules. The applicant will get more than one study plan which can be confusing

Different authorities can have different ideas about the students needs

No guidance is located at the schools.

SWOT - Opportunities

All career counselors under one roof Applications for all adult education is made at one location All education is free of charge Sfi - all material is also free

SWOT - Threats

Economy – all education is financed by taxes The individual study plan is the responsibility of the student.

Since the career counselors are not located in the school, the help is further away.

It is hard to keep the study plan alive Different school have a different attitude to the individual study

plan