ABSTRACT
The work of reforming the Swedish school system which led to the implementation of the 9-year compulsory comprehensive school was begun by the School Committee appointed in 1940 by the parliament. The purpose of the 1940 School Committee was to get an overall view of both past and present as a basis for future school planning. Curriculum theory and curriculum research in connection to the school reforms have been highly subservient to the interests of the capitalist state as these are expressed by the National Board of Education. The School Committee of 1957 as well as the other committees responsible for proposing the plans for school reforms commissioned various studies and made extensive use of information from scientific research to back up or to justify their proposals. In Sweden it was clearly stated that the educational reform of the compulsory school system should contribute to social justice by making education available to all regardless of social background.
