The Swedish comprehensive school—lost in transition?

Abstract

The Swedish comprehensive school system was developed from 1950 to 1971. In the 1990s the system was radically restructured. Developments were based on consensus between different political parties up until the 1980s, however after this date the debate has become more polarised. In 2006 an alliance of four parties was elected to government and began to realise a ‘new educational policies’. As in many other countries, the results of PISA and other international comparative tests are used to ‘scandalise’ the existing educational system in order to accelerate the introduction of change. However, it is not the under-achieving restructured school which is scandalised but the ideas and ideals of the previous, not under-achieving, comprehensive school system. In this article the development of the Swedish school model, as well as its changes during the 1990s and thereafter, are described—against the background of the Swedish welfare model and alterations to it.