Should we close down the Free Schools in Sweden?

During the spring there has been a lively debate in Swedish media in response on a series of articles about the alleged serious problems in the Swedish state schools. This is of special interest to a British audience with the plans to establish a string of Free Schools alongside the existing ones. One of the results from this series of well-written articles has been a debate about parents' and students' right to choose schools - and that must be an inherently good thing. Another result, and a bit confusing to me having first hand experience from education in Sweden (and not a very good one), is that many people blame the current problems on this very right to choose. Free Schools were established long after I left education, but the problems in many state schools (lack of discipline, violence, bullying and academic results falling year on year, one supply teacher after the other) I recognise from my own years in primary and secondary education in a rather affluent area of Stockholm - and we had no choice whatsoever! You go to this school -period.

Research has showed that Free Schools are doing better than the state schools as there are fewer Free Schools among the failing - and this is seen by many as a problem. The solution would be, according to this quite loud group, to shut down the Free Schools and force the students back to their designated state school. I prefer the idea put forward by one person working for a Free School organisation, namely to have a register where the schools' results are being shown. Great, I think. But why has it taken twenty years for something as obvious as that? Most people like to be able to compare different brands before they make an informed decision, so why not when it comes to such an important aspect as your children's education? If nothing else it might give parents the ammunition they need to go to their council and demand a better school for their children.