What do we want?

We urge Stockholm Stad to take immediate action in saving our college by assuming ownership from IES (Internationella Engelska Skolan), a private organisation founded by Barbara Bergström. Due to declining enrollment, IES has decided, after 25 years, to close their only operating Gymansium.

However, with the expertise and resources of Stockholm Stad, we can more effectively advertise the school, attract new students, and ensure the continuation of its crucial mission. This school has played a key role in integrating immigrants into Swedish society, providing them with a sense of belonging and the skills they need to succeed.

In light of the recent terrorist attack in Örebro, targeting students from immigrant backgrounds, it is more important than ever to support schools that cater to diverse communities. We must build up, not dismantle, the institutions that serve to integrate and uplift these students.

Who is impacted?

The decision to shut down the school will impact all the students and the dedicated and hardworking staff members directly. For students, it means disruption to their education, breaking a familiar and nurturing learning environment, and an atmosphere of uncertainty about their future. Many of the staff originate from far-flung lands such as the USA and South Africa and now face the prospect of unemployment. These aren't just any teachers: some have graduate degrees from Harvard, and some have worked on Nobel Prize-winning research. One teacher has even completed one initiative that helped transform Gamla Stan recently by instituting more environmentally-friendly, locally-farmed options, with direct, positive benefits to the Swedish economy. This is a community built on excellence, and its loss with the demise of such a school would be an assault on many hearts.

What is at stake?

If the rescue plan fails, there will be unwarranted interruptions for students, and their educational future will be left unstable. The teachers who have given their all to the school will be cut off from their bread and butter, and the community will be bereft of mentors whose roles go beyond just being teachers; they are instruments of our growth. IEGS isn't just any school; it's where students grow their English and Swedish skills together with Somali, Spanish etc. It's the only school that made me feel close to Sweden, surrounded by friends from all around the world. Our school breathes diversity and inclusion where I, and many others, have become better citizens. The staff and spirit of IEGS have developed us toward becoming part of the real future of Sweden. Without them, we have not lost a mere school—more importantly, we lost an important pillar of our future. 

Why is now the time to act?

We must act now, as the school's future is on the line. The current lease on the building is ending, but instead of closing the doors for good, the focus should be on resizing and adapting the school to meet the challenges of lower enrollment. The teachers here are extraordinary individuals who have not only believed in their students when they were hopeless but have also guided them through personal challenges. Immediate action is needed to ensure that IEGS can continue to nurture the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and active members of society. This is not just a petition to save a school; it’s a plea to save a community that has shaped so many lives for the better.

If the IES company has failed us, we cannot let the Swedish government, especially the Board of Education, abandon us now. We need their support because our future is their future. It would be far better for Stockholm Stad to take over an already established school like IEGS than to start a new one from scratch, like Järva Gymnasium. All the systems and staff are already in place, and the school building is K-märkt, meaning no structural changes can be made, yet it already functions incredibly well as a school. Why wouldn’t Stockholm Stad want to take over the leadership of a successful institution that contributes positively to society? It’s better for the economy, better for tax spending—and after all, it’s a win-win situation!