It’s lunch break at the Practical high school in Liljeholmen in southern Stockholm. Last årseleven Hussein Yasir leads us towards the benches in the classroom where the students usually agree to. There, we meet his two mentors on the program of Commerce and administration, Yasir Divo Rasheed and Olivia Waldermarsson.

Divo Rasheed points to the white board at the front of the classroom, where the yellow magnets are sitting targets. ”TODAY’s TASK”, ”GOAL/PURPOSE” and ”START-END BREAK,” it says on the signs.

Signs that Hussein Yasir and his classmates created to help get the structure of the lessons. To the left is Olivia Waldermarsson, one of his mentors. Photo: Anette Nantell

– You may show up where Hussein, ” he says.

the product that Hussein and some of his classmates made in school. They should be used by teachers to get more structure in the lessons and to simplify the communication with the students språkintroduktionsprogram. The magnets have been bought up by several schools, ” says Hussein, smiling.

Hussein, Yasir went on a språkintroduktionsprogram, after he came to Sweden from Iraq five years ago. He was 15 years old then, and came here along with his mother and younger siblings. When he got to high school it was hard to keep up with. He was not fluent in the language and at the school he went to was a little bit of commitment in the studies.

– There were not many who wanted to study. I wanted to study but it was difficult and I was not interested in it as we would learn – I wanted to keep on with the trade, ” he says.

the Stress that the family had not enough money also meant that he was thinking to jump out of high school.

– But then had my younger siblings have done that and I stopped because I did it, ” says Hussein.

Therefore, he went himself to Christine Ripås, principal at the Practical high school in Liljeholmen, and asked to start there. Because he lived in a different municipality, it was difficult to get to the switch, but three years ago, he started on the program of Commerce and administration.

He had to go on the first of the year and has also been forced to supplement their grades from compulsory school. Now he has only English and religion remain. Soon, he shall also submit his gymnasiearbete before it is time to take the student.

” I write about interest rate. Compare between different loans and banks and so, ” says Hussein.

the Topic he chose for that he feels so many young people take sms-loans. He wants to show how much higher the interest rate is on sms-loans so that his friends can understand.

– It is important and then it becomes fun, ” he says.

the 100,000 students who went on a national programme at upper secondary school in the autumn of 2017 went a third of the twelve different vocational programmes that are offered.

last year was the number of applicants to the Swedish national upper secondary school programme 116 350. To the various vocational programs searched less than 50,000 and the number has increased by around 10,000 in the last three years. Of the applicants to the vocational programs is slightly more than 60 percent of guys.

Hussein Yasir holds up a sign that is a part of the product that he has created as part of the school’s activities. Photo: Anette Nantell

consists in passing grades in Swedish or Swedish as a second language, English, mathematics and at least five other subjects from the primary school. In order to gain access to any of the college preparatory programs needed approved in four subjects.

Since 2011, students in vocational programs not eligible for college, if they do not themselves choose the topics that are missing as individual options. The model has been controversial, and during the last parliamentary term, the government presented a proposal to return to a vocational high school, which gave basic permissions, but the proposal was voted down.

at Least 15 weeks of schooling consists of so-called ‘ work-based learning (APL), then the students get to work practically on a workplace in the direction that they go.

Right now, Hussein Yasir APL, or practice, as he calls it, on a layer.

Later in the day, he shows us acclimatized into the warehouse, which is located in a large office complex in Solna, north of Stockholm. The aisles are winding, and gray.

When the door goes to the storage room goes up, the contrast is great. Bright lights light up the shelf the top and shelf down with the colorful dresses, jackets, pants and chemises.

– Here in Sweden you need contacts to get a job, otherwise it is very hard to do. But have you not had a job, it is difficult to have contacts, so practice is very good, ” says Hussein.

on the Practical high school, he has done internships at grocery stores and various clothing stores, and in several places he has been and extra.

Himself, he can not choose what is the most fun, work or study. But when he talks about his work as service personnel, it is with a great feeling.

– It is important to carefully check on the customer when it comes in. They are a little sour, you can take it easy and just be nice so maybe they will be in a better mood. They are happy, you can have a little more energy so they become even happier and maybe get a even better day, ” says Hussein.

Hussein, Yasir is in the day glad he didn’t quit the school, for its own sake and for their siblings.

– Now I can be a good role model. I can show that it pays to go to school and work. Now they look up to me, and I think that some of the students in the school do too, ” he says.