Berättarministeriet shall, based on a humanistic perspective, serve as a support for schools with low academic performance. We strive to: Strengthen education on human terms. Support teachers in their professional practice and development. Enable children and young people to master the written word in a meaningful and creative way.

About Berättarministeriet

About Berättarministeriet

Berättarministeriet (Ministry of Storytelling), founded in 2011, is a non-profit, non-partisan foundation striving for a society where all children are confident with written expressions. Berättarministeriet offers support to teachers and students in Swedish primary schools located in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas. This is done through teacher professional learning and development and free school programs that entice students, regardless of skill level, to conquer the written word.

Berättarministeriet strengthens the teachers’ role through practical help, tools and resources that support the work. The support for teachers’ is based on three parts: theory, collegial exchanges of experience and practical tools for the classroom.

The programs are carried out in the classroom with the help of teachers’ guides, student materials, artifacts, films, and letters sent to the class. All program material is available to the teacher on our teacher portal. Our school programs are interdisciplinary, and adheres to the Swedish national curriculum. Primary schools located in the geographical area around our education centers in Husby, and Hagsätra in Stockholm, Gamlestaden in Gothenburg, and in Malmö can choose to start by a visit to us.

Our school programs

Berättarministeriet develops school programs with creative teaching materials for use in the classroom. All our programs promote language development and nurture students’ creativity and critical thinking. An important part of our method is collaboration with institutions, universities, and museums, which broadens students’ horizons and gives them access to a wider social context.

Our school programs are based on storytelling, strengthening students’ confidence in their own language abilities, inspiring them to find intrinsic motivation, and helping them master the written word. All programs are aligned with the curriculum, serve as interdisciplinary support, and are designed so that all students, regardless of their level of knowledge, can participate.

Each school program includes a teacher’s guide with complete lesson plans, artifacts, and other student materials. Our educators provide teacher support throughout the program. All our materials and teacher support are free of charge.

Teacher professional learning and development

Berättarministeriet provides teacher professional learning and development through tools and resources that enhance learning environments where language development and creativity flourish. The school programs are implemented in the classroom in alignment with the curriculum and encourage student learning in creative ways. At the same time, the teachers are given tools and support for their professional learning; thus, theory and practice are intertwined. Teachers are also offered recurring conferences for professional learning and the exchange of experiences.

Our vision

Our vision is a society where all children are confident with written expression and have the prerequisites to actively participate in society.

Our mission

Berättarministeriet shall, based on a humanistic perspective, serve as a support for schools with low academic performance.

We strive to:

Strengthen education on human terms.
Support teachers in their professional practice and development.
Enable children and young people to master the written word in a meaningful and creative way.

Berättarministeriet in numbers

Continuous evaluations are carried out each semester, gathering feedback from participating teachers, which leads to necessary adaptations and improvements. Since its founding in 2011, more than 9,000 teachers have participated in the development and evaluation of Berättarministeriet’s programs to ensure that we meet the complex needs of socioeconomically disadvantaged schools. All our school programs are continuously updated to be relevant and compatible with the national curriculum.

106,477 students have taken part in our school programs

9,504 educators have used our offer

9/10 teachers recommend us to a colleague

9/10 teachers believe that our method is a support in their teaching

Definition

Socio-economic index

Berättarministeriet uses the Swedish National Agency for Education’s definition of socioeconomic index, developed by Statistics Sweden (SCB), based on a model that describes students’ conditions depending on socioeconomic factors. These factors affect the likelihood that a student will be eligible for upper secondary school.

The model uses the following variables:
– The legal guardians’ level of education
– Year of immigration to Sweden
– Guardians’ income
– Gender
– Financial sopport and benefits
– If the student is registered at the same address as both guardians
– Number of siblings registered in the household
– Socioeconomic status of the residential area where the student is registered

Berättarministeriet's school map

Info and statistics based on socioeconomic index for all Sweden's compulsory schools

Many Swedish schools face difficulties in fulfilling the compensatory mission of an equal education of good quality for all children. An increasing number of children see their future being dictated by factors beyond their own control, such as the parents’ socioeconomic status. In schools with a high socio-economic index, the transition to upper secondary school is generally lower than that of the national average.

Berättarministeriet’s interactive school map, offers information and statistics based on the socioeconomic index for all of Sweden’s elementary schools. At the municipal level, the number of schools in the municipality, the proportion of schools with an index above 100 (which is the national average), the proportion of ineligible students for upper secondary school vocational programes (8 passing grades), the municipality’s highest index at school level and the average index for the entire municipality. The map is updated annually when the Swedish National Agency for Education, based on Statistics Sweden’s official statistics, publishes new data. The data is updated continuously.

To the school map

Our vision

Our vision is a society where all children are confident with the written expression and have the prerequisites to actively participate in society.

Our mission

Berättarministeriet shall, based on a humanistic perspective, serve as a support for schools with low academic performance.

We strive to:

Strengthen education on human terms.
Support teachers in their professional practice and development.
Enable children and young people to master the written word in a meaningful and creative way.

Why are we needed?

Growing socioeconomic disparities in society has negative consequences for children’s schooling, and it’s a well-documented fact that segregation effects school’s opportunities to fulfill their compensatory mission. A growing number of children’s futures are dictated by inherited factors beyond their control, such as their parents’ socioeconomic status. In schools with a high socioeconomic index, the eligibility for upper secondary school is far lower than the national average. It creates a notions of powerlessness and alienation that erodes faith in a liberal democracy. Berättarministeriet’s mission is to reverse this development.

Volunteers are essential

It is crucial for a child’s self-esteem and self-confidence to meet engaged adults who are curious and believe in the child’s abilities. The more adults the better. The quality of Berättarministeriet’s array of programs is possible thanks to our volunteers. The volunteers’ most important task is to meet the children in the education centres and inspire them to enjoyable learning by being curious, responsive and engaged in the children’s stories.

Funding

Berättarministeriet is a non-profit, politically and religiously unassociated foundation. The activities are possible thanks to close collaboration between three sectors: private, public and non-profit.

The public funding derives from the municipalities where the education centers are located and from the Swedish government. Partners, such as companies and foundations, contribute with financial support alongside with pro bono-partners who contribute with their time and expertise. Volunteers are furthermore an important part of the proven method and contribute their engagement and time during the student activities in the education centers.

History

Berättarministeriet is a non-profit, politically and religiously independent foundation established in 2011. Our mission is to address growing societal challenges, including increasing polarization in public discourse and widening gaps between different socioeconomic groups. We are founded on the belief that the backbone of a thriving democracy is a well-functioning, equitable education system. Research shows a strong link between equal access to education, socioeconomic mobility, and citizens’ trust in democracy. Berättarministeriet provides targeted support for teachers and students in schools located in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas. Our work is made possible through partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders from both the private and public sectors.