Jacob Christensen

I’m still a bit puzzled by the hatchet job which the Swedish Board of Higher Education performed on the teaching programmes yesterday.

When you look closer at the reports published by the BHE, it turns out that the sweeping criticism of exams, grading routines and grading standards are based on a study of the Stockholm College of Education. The other report which criticises teaching programmes for lacking a base in research is based on a study of a number of regional colleges and Gothenburg University.

I haven’t had the time to look into the publications in greater detail but it seems that the BHE’s study group doesn’t discuss the external validity of the studies in the reports. One point which could be made is that the Stockholm College of Education is a special case, even if it is the largest institution involved in the training of teachers in Sweden, as it is one of very few remaining independent colleges of education and due to be integrated into Stockholm University.

To make a long story short: I think it is reasonable to ask to what degree the reports are a part of the very messy affair which is the integration of Stockholm College of Education and Stockholm University rather than a general study of teacher education in Sweden. Second, some of the points mentioned in the report on exams could easily be said to be applicable to all teaching at the college and university level, not only in Sweden but in most – if not all – countries.

BHE Report 2006:45 – Examination med kvalitet and Report 2006:46 – Utbildning på vetenskaplig grund.