High school teacher Maria Wiman is demanding a refund after winning what was advertised as a 'full day' with Education Minister Simona Mohamsson through a charity auction, only to receive approximately three hours with the minister. The auction, organized by Tradera for Musikhjälpen charity, saw Wiman pay 56,500 kronor for the experience, with funds raised by around 1,000 contributors through crowdfunding.
According to reports, Wiman expected a full workday of 8-9 hours with the minister but instead received three hours with Mohamsson followed by one hour with State Secretary Lotta Edholm. 'It's completely unbelievably strange. I don't understand anything,' Wiman told Aftonbladet. She emphasized that the experience was meant to represent the concerns of many teachers, having collected 700 testimonies from teachers, students, and guardians to share with the minister.
It's completely unbelievably strange. I don't understand anything.
Wiman has now filed a complaint with Tradera, stating she's exercising her consumer rights. 'This is not my day. This is our day,' she said. The minister's office reportedly offered a meeting with State Secretary David Lindberg as an alternative, which Wiman rejected, saying 'It's not what we paid for.'
Education Minister Simona Mohamsson responded to the criticism, saying 'It's unfortunate that Maria wasn't satisfied with the time we had together, because I really appreciated it and thought it was wonderful.' She defended the shorter meeting by noting that 'no day is like another as education minister.'
This is not my day. This is our day.
The funds from the auction went to support children's right to education through Musikhjälpen. Wiman says she doesn't want her money back but rather the full day that was promised.
It's not what we paid for.
It's unfortunate that Maria wasn't satisfied with the time we had together, because I really appreciated it and thought it was wonderful.
No day is like another as education minister.