As a result of extensive immigration, consisting largely of refugees,
Sweden has undergone a fast demographic change during the last 25 years.
In 2016, approximately 17% of Sweden’s inhabitants were born outside of
the country. Sweden was the country in the European Union granting most
refugees asylum in proportion to its population, and the EU country
that had most asylum-seeking unaccompanied minors, in absolute numbers.
The Swedish education system has had obvious difficulties to cope with
the situation, inter alia reflected
in considerable gaps in non-immigrant versus immigrant student
achievement results and completion rates, which are above average when
compared to other Western nations. This chapter provides a brief
overview of the cultural composition of the student population within
Sweden, including its evolution over time. The trajectory of achievement
results on national and international large-scale assessment measures
are examined in relation to non-immigrant and immigrant student groups.
The authors discuss the range of policy approaches at national and local
levels that have been adopted in Sweden to close these achievement gaps
and reduce the levels of school dropout and non-completion.