Equivalence is measured on the basis of several factors.
Surveys show that equivalence measured in grades and results has deteriorated, as has equivalence in terms of segregation.
Equality measured in parents' backgrounds and accessibility to schools has also deteriorated, according to Eva Andersson, professor of cultural geography.
- Overall, it can be said that it is segregation between schools and residential areas that results in poorer equality.
Children with different backgrounds are less and less mixed, she says.
Research shows that a mix of students from different backgrounds contributes to students who need more support succeeding better.
Large quality differences
Helena Holmlund, associate professor of economics at the Institute for Labor Market and Education Policy Evaluation, believes that there are relatively large differences between the quality of schools in Sweden and that school choice leads to increased school segregation.
- There are systematic differences in the quality of schools between different types of municipality.
On average, schools are better in metropolitan areas than in rural areas - although of course there are both good and bad schools in all types of municipalities, she says.
Eva Andersson adds that it is not as common for parents in rural areas to think that their children should go on to higher education, compared with parents in big cities.
- The importance of the family has increased over time.
Study habits at home have become increasingly important for students to succeed, says Eva Andersson.