Monday 5 May 2008

Independent schools

Some ideas on school reform from the Swedes.

A proliferation of independent schools that didn't undercut the public system or discriminate on the basis of ability to pay would be a neat idea. I don't know how well the Swedish system has worked but it would be worth a closer look.

1 comment:

Simone R. said...

"It is important to understand that school choice is more about power - that is, shifting power from politicians and bureaucrats to parents and pupils - than anything else."

Yes. Though it seems not all parents and pupils have this power.

"Authorised independent schools are financed by a voucher system, by which the local council provides school resources equivalent to those provided to its own schools, on a per-pupil basis. For pupils who require extra resources (children suffering physical or mental disabilities and those with learning and behavioural difficulties), extra funding may be provided at the discretion of the local school board, which may refuse on budgetary grounds and refer the child to one of its own schools."