Sweden introduced free school choice about 15 years ago and the country’s voucher educational system is probably “the most ambitious of its kind in the world,” notes Per Unckel, a former Swedish Minister of Education and Science. No mean feat for a country “where competition within the area of public services has not generally been accepted.” Other countries, say Unckel, might find Sweden’s school system worth studying:
“Its schools are financed by local communities and work within the framework of a national curriculum designed by the parliament and government. But, while everyone must follow these rules, individual schools are run in a competitive manner. Anyone – parents, teachers, or even companies – can apply for a license to operate a school. The National School Board is, in principle, instructed to approve an application if the proposed school is likely to fulfill the national goals and has a solid financial base.”
The voucher system means that all students, irrespective of family income, can attend the school of their choice, Unckel writes. “Even in rural areas, there is now a wide choice of schools, and it seems that competition has improved the overall quality of Swedish schools, as non-public schools’ very existence has created a demand for reform of public schools.”
![[del.icio.us]](http://images.del.icio.us/static/img/delicious.small.gif){kind=small}
0 Responses to “Learning From Sweden”