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Sweden Today

Swedish news in English

Thursday, December 12, 2024

Sweden to Overhaul For-Profit School System Amid Grade Inflation Concerns

Published: 2024-03-13

In a recent move to address the longstanding issues plaguing Sweden's free school system, Education Minister Lotta Edholm has promised a comprehensive overhaul aimed at curbing the system's "unhealthy incentives.

" This pledge comes in the wake of a new report revealing that students from for-profit schools perform worse in higher education compared to their counterparts from municipal schools, primarily due to grade inflation driven by profit motives.

The report, echoing long-standing concerns, shows that free schools often award higher grades than deserved, attracting more students and, consequently, higher profits.

The government is now working on several high-profile investigations into the education sector, including aspects related to profits and grading, with proposals expected to be presented to the parliament next year.

Edholm's promise of reform has been met with both hope and skepticism, given her party's history of defending the market-based school system.