Abstract
After World War II, the Swedish educational system changed to a less selective one.It was intended that through this new system differences based on social class, sex, region, and so on, should decrease.Statistical data on the government, however, show us that the social imbalance still remains.Some research also shows the same trend using other data.
The Swedish school system gives children almost the same curriculum as well as the right to get more education.There is no entrance examination at any level, except for some special departments in higher education.No fees are required for upper secondary and higher education.If children have enough knowledge and aspiration, they can choose any track in upper secondary school and any department in higher education, regardless of their social background.Theoretically, individual choice has replaced social selection.But the educational result has still been affected by social class.Children from lower classes are often willing to (or obliged to) choose working or shorter schooling through the present system.I present two questions on this How does social class affect ect such process? What function does school have on such a process?
The aim of this paper is to answer these two questions, using published data from three longitudinal surveys in Sweden: the LING project, the Metropolitan project, and the Social Segregation project.These give us data on the relationships between social class and education.I try to draw one picture of the process by reconstructing each survey.Some of the results of this study are as follows:
1.A good educational environment, meaning a good economical situation, parents' education, parents'information on good education and good jobs, and so on, can help children to achieve in primary school.These also help children to have a positive plan for their long-term education and for good jobs.Children from higher classes can make the most of the opportunities given by the present educational system.Children from lower classes start later, without enough information, and it is too difficult for them to catch up with those children who have gone ahead.
2.School treats every child fairly according to their ability.It neither restrains nor reinforces the effect of social class.It only maintains the initial advantage and disadvantage, without compensating the initial latecomer.
