Föräldrainflytande i grundskolan - Barnverket

throw light on what happens within the boards. The intention is to describe
developments and show what in fact goes on within the different boards. A
further intention is to place the phenomenon of such parent-majority boards in
context and show how they are shaped by the prevailing circumstances.
The aim of this thesis is thus to describe and analyse what happens in
individual schools that have local boards with an elected parent majority.
The intention is to achieve a critical analysis and discussion of the pilot
scheme they are a part of, on the basis of what regulates them. The following
areas are investigated:
What responsibilities and what genuine rights do the local boards have?
How much participation, democracy and collaboration is there within each local board?
What is the school principal’s role on the board, and how do the interests of various parties
make themselves felt in the board’s work?
What form does the evaluation and follow-up of this pilot scheme take?
Method
The thesis can be seen primarily as a series of case studies, and its basis is
the descriptions and analyses of the nine local school boards. The data used
were collected by a variety of means: analysis of documents; interviews
with individuals, groups, and by telephone; participation in board meetings;
and school visit observations.
Results
All the political parties are in agreement today on the great importance of
increasing parents’ influence on school and its activities. It is emphasised that
collaboration is vital in the matter of children’s education. The establishment
of local school boards is founded on the understanding that the needs of the
local school are of first importance, and each board is expected to deal with
urgent questions concerning its particular school. It is also expected that
schools will improve as a result of parental involvement.
In the political debate concerning the pilot scheme, parental involvement
is seen as a democratic right which should be extended. Parents are seen
as an important resource, bringing valuable expertise to the school. The
establishment of local school boards with parent majorities has meant that
the right to make decisions, previously the prerogative of the school principal
and the responsible political committee (in accordance with the Compulsory
155