Föräldrars val av fristående skolor

Sammanfattning: Abstract Although the number of children attending private schools in Sweden is less than 4% of those attending compulsory schools, the debate of these schools has been intense. Apart from details as fees and funding, the role of education’ in the Swedish welfare system has been subject of much debate. In spite of the debate, in Sweden there is a lack of knowledge about private schools. The aim of this thesis is to study the parents who prefer private education and their reasons for so doing. Four different private schools in four municipalities have been examined with regard to freedom of choice, equality, equivalent opportunities and segregation. In addition this thesis will describe the reaction of the municipalities to the choice made by the parents. The results of this inquiry are presented within the framework of four main categories: The importance of family background, how parents obtain their information, reasons for choosing a private school and reasons for withdrawing from a municipality school. The results show no extremes in living conditions or financial status. It is however obvious that the schools studied do have a strong political or ideological profile and this is an expression of segregation. On the other hand, one reason for leaving the municipality school is that the children have been isolated and, in several cases, bullied at school. It is evident that the parents of private schools are parents who are involved in their children’s school situation. The more educated parents the easier it is to obtain information. The schools expect parents to participate in the practical work of the school. As time passes, however, new parents prefer to pay for any service needed instead. If teachers and heads in the compulsory schools had listen more to the complaints of parents and made more efforts to introduce changes, a lot of pupils would have remained. Today private schools regard the local authority as an organ of control. Instead ways of co-operation must be investigated so that private schools are regarded as complement rather than a threat.