Keywords
public schools
independent schools
management system
funding
school leadership
academic outcomes
educational segregation
autonomy
accountability
educational equity
How to Cite
Abstract
In Sweden, alongside public schools, independent schools have expanded in recent decades, and today nearly 20% of compulsory school students attend independent schools. This article presents a comparative analysis of the management systems of public and independent schools in Sweden. It explores differences in governance, funding, school leadership, teacher recruitment, and academic outcomes. While both school types follow national standards, independent schools operate with greater autonomy and flexibility. The article highlights how school choice and governance structures contribute to educational segregation, despite comparable academic performance. The findings emphasize the need to balance autonomy, equity, and accountability in Sweden’s education system.
References
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2. Regulation and Funding of Independent Schools. Lessons from Sweden, Gabriel Heller Sahlgren, Fraser Institute, Toronto, 2016.
3. Why Do Associations Run Independent Schools in Sweden, and Why Does It Matter?. Hallonsten, O., Sevelin, E., Scandinavian Journal of Public Administration, 27(2), Gothenburg 2023
4. Education, equality, and efficiency – An analysis of Swedish school reforms during the 1990s. Anders Björklund, Per-Anders Edin, Peter Fredriksson, Alan Krueger, Uppsala 2004
5. Changes in individualized teaching practices in municipal and independent schools 2003, 2008 and 2014 - student achievement, family background and school choice in Sweden. Joanna Giotaa, Daniel Berghb, Ingemar Emanuelssona, Nordic Journal of Studies in Educational Policy Vol. 5, No. 2, 78–91, Stockholm 2019
6. Causes of educational segregation in Sweden – school choice or residential segregation․ Kajsa Yang Hansen, Jan-Eric Gustafsson, Educational Research and Evaluation, New-York 2016
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Copyright (c) 2025 Nazik Harutyunyan, Mariam Aleksanyan