It’s the last place you would expect to find competition in education, but Sweden seems to be leading the richer countries in a new type of school choice. In the early 1990s, Sweden, a byword for cradle-to-grave welfare, had a monolithic public school system. Then in 1992 a centre-right government that briefly replaced the Social Democrats began offering public funding to private enterprise groups with the freedom to choose their own teaching methods and staff, and manage their own buildings. By running schools more efficiently the private companies make a profit from the bulk funding they receive. They are not allowed to charge tuition fees.

Despite misgivings and criticism the new schools have flourished, accounting now for 17 per cent of high school students and nine per cent of primary schoolchildren. They remain completely government financed, but some, at least, are managing to increase their profits. At the Vittra chain… click here to read whole article and make comments