Folkhögskolans bildningsmiljö

: upplevda framgångsfaktorer för personer med neuropsykiatrisk funktionsnedsättning

Abstract

Many adolescent students in Sweden go through the regular school system without attaining the goals for the final grade. Therefore, there is a great need for adult education.  The folk high school offers an alternative pedagogical discourse in relation to the regular school system because of its lack of nationally governed curriculums. The general course is for those students who want to complete the courses missed or failed in their prior schooling.

Studies show that 30 % of all students in the general course have neuropsychiatric disabilities and that these students often succeed in their studies at folk high schools. The overall aim of this thesis is to contribute with knowledge in the area of special education regarding adult students with neuropsychiatric disabilities and folk high schools.

The study was conducted as a qualitative study where the empirical result was gathered by semi-structural interviews. The theoretical framework consisted of the socio-cultural perspective and the results were analyzed with regards to the theory views on learning. Students attending the general course at two different folk high schools were interviewed with the intent of them shedding some light onto what it is within the folk high school that contributes to successful studies. The thesis will also point out what students identified as the biggest differences between folk high school and the prior school forms they have attended.

The results show that the factors students find most significant for their educational progress are; flexible and inclusive pedagogics, the relationship with teachers, the fellowship, the boarding school-aspects and the smaller study groups. The differences from other types of schools that are pointed out are a slower pace in studies and a social support that is offered at a larger extent in folk high school.

The result is relevant for the area of special education as the factors that are pointed out could be of more importance in the education of special education teachers, but also play a larger role in the way tutoring of students with neuropsychiatric disabilities is organized.