Teacher Education in Sweden: An Intercultural Perspective

Abstract

This chapter closes with some reflections on problems and challenges related to intercultural issues in Swedish teacher education. The principle of ‘cooperation’ implies that ‘a mutual and comprehensive cultural exchange should be established between immigrant and minority groups and the native population’. In February 1985, the Riksdag decided that an intercultural perspective was to characterize all teaching in all types of schools, teacher education included. The second language teacher training is also part of the compulsory comprehensive teacher education programme, with Swedish as a second language as the main subject. There is a growing interest among applicants for this part of the programme, especially after the Government’s recent decision to confirm a separate national curriculum in Swedish as a second language. As a teacher educator in Sweden with a great interest in intercultural issues, it is easy to feel discouraged by the slow progress in teacher training institutions to initiate compulsory courses to prepare teachers for a multicultural society.