The professor about the Swedish school: "Does not feel as good as we have done"

Sweden's school results are relatively good compared with other countries.

Within the Nordic region, the differences are small.

But if you look at the development within the country, it looks darker, according to Monica Rosén who is a professor of pedagogy at the University of Gothenburg.

- If we compare ourselves with how we have had it earlier in school, you can say that we do not feel as good as we have done.

A large part is about the reforms we have implemented in Sweden within the free choice of school and the free school reform.

This is part of the fact that today we see increased differences, says Monica Rosén.

"Then you get knocked out"

She has long researched issues related to differences in knowledge, attitudes, skills and interests within the school.

For the past 20 years, she has also had a special focus on issues concerning students' reading skills and how they change over time, both within Sweden and compared with other countries.

- We see that Swedish children are declining in reading comprehension, mathematics and science.

They are not alone in that, but now it is Sweden we are talking about, says Monica Rosén.

- Reading is one of the most fundamental skills for studies and it is important that you do not fall behind at an early age.

Because then you get knocked out, she says.

"Bigger differences"

At the same time, Swedish students stand out when it comes to social studies and are now in a top position in international comparisons.

But the shortage of teachers and increased school segregation, with increasing differences both between and within schools, risk widening the gaps further, says Monica Rosén.

She also points to the stricter requirements for getting approved grades, something that risks contributing to exclusion already at a young age.

- Then it will be difficult to get qualified, good teachers to schools that have slightly greater challenges.

We have a requirement that teachers must be qualified to get a job, and that is good.

The problem is that we do not have as many qualified teachers as we need for all of Sweden's schools and classes.

And it is a challenge for the whole system to get it out, she says.