The implications of school marketisation for students enrolled on introductory programmes in Swedish upper secondary education

Abstract

Sweden has, like most countries, transformed its educational system with the aim of increasing the economic productivity of its citizens. Nowadays, it has one of the world’s most market-oriented school systems, including few hindrances for new free-school actors. Swedish students have thus become commodities in a competitive school market. The aim of the article is to study students’ exchange value in relation to choice of different schools and study paths with a special focus on the introductory programmes within the Swedish upper secondary school. Traditionally, Swedish upper secondary schools offered vocational and academic programmes, channelling young people into skilled jobs or higher education. Introductory programmes are recent innovations, aimed at the 13% of young people who do not qualify for vocational or academic programmes. This group includes those who have failed to complete compulsory school for a variety of reasons, including those who are recent arrivals in the country. Through observations, formal and informal interviews as well as reading of national and local documents and marketing material, we conclude that introductory programme students do not seem to be sufficiently ‘profitable’ to warrant investment by free schools. Public schools are obliged to help this group of students attain additional qualifications, investing heavily in their education so that they may become part of the mainstream school market.