EDUCATIONAL NEWS FROM THE INDEPENDENT i JUNE 1ST 2013
BY : LEWIS SMITH
SWEDISH FREE SCHOOLS CLOSE DOWN
ONE OF THE LARGEST FREE SCHOOL OPERATORS IN SWEDEN IS TO SHUT DOWN , RAISING FURTHER DOUBTS ABOUT CONSERVATIVE HOPES OF LETTING PRIVATE COMPANIES RUN BRITISH FREE SCHOOLS FOR PROFIT .
THREE OF THE SCHOOLS RUN BY JB EDUCATION IN SWEDEN ARE TO CLOSE AND THE OTHER 19 ARE TO BE SOLD AFTER PRIVATE EQUITY GROUP AXCEL ,THE PARENT COMPANY WHICH BOUGHT THEM IN 2008 , DECIDED THAT THE LOSSES WERE TOO SUBSTANTIAL ” IT IS EXTREMELY REGRETTABLE THAT IT WILL AFFECT THE STUDENTS” , JB EDUCATION `S CHIEF EXECUTIVE , ANDERS HULTIN WAS QUOTED AS SAYING YESTERDAY.
YESTERDAY TEACHING UNIONS IN BRITAIN SAID THAT THE SWEDISH EXPERIENCE DEMONSTRATED HOW INAPPROPRIATE IT IS TO ALLOW SCHOOLS TO RUN FOR PROFIT .
CHRISTINE BLOWERS, GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE NATIONAL UNION OF TEACHERS , SAID ; A PRIVATE COMPANY `S FIRST LOYALTY IS TO SHAREHOLDERS , NOT PUPILS OR PARENTS. IF A SCHOOL ISN`T PROFITABLE , IT WILL EITHER CUT CORNERS OR , IN THE WORST CASE SCENARIO , CLOSE IT DOWN .
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