Dilemmas in the implementation of children's right to equity in education in the Swedish compulsory school

Abstract

In order to illustrate and discuss the impacts of neo-liberal educational policies on equity, this article analyses the effects of different kinds of decentralisation strategies on the implementation of children's right to an equitable education in Sweden. It begins with a comprehensive overview of the changes implemented in the Swedish compulsory school system during the last two decades. It analyses the processes of transfer of authority and responsibility and discusses the complexity of interpreting these processes in terms of equity. This article examines the complex and contextual nature and consequences of decentralisation and centralisation strategies in order to better understand the implementation of children's right to equity in school practice. Although this analysis is based on the Swedish experience, it can contribute to a better understanding of the impacts of neo-liberal educational policies on equity in other European contexts.