ABSTRACT
For several years, education researchers have investigated distinctive features of the Nordic education model. This research considers the Nordic education model in relation to a broad range of education issues. This chapter presents an overview of the education policies in Denmark, Sweden and Norway, with particular attention paid to the main features of the Nordic education model. It reviews the development of the Nordic education model, as seen in the light of developments in the Scandinavian countries during the first four decades of the post-Second World War period. The chapter describes and assesses more recent education reforms in the Scandinavian countries together with some statistics on Scandinavian education. It discusses central features of the re-making of the education model in light of recent Scandinavian policy initiatives. Despite economic turmoil and globalization and regardless of recent reforms, there is evidence demonstrating that the fundamental principles and policies of the social democratic welfare state are sustained in all of the Nordic countries.
