Jonas Vlachos is a Professor of Economics at Stockholm University. Photo: Sören Andersson

In December 2023, the Swedish National Agency for Education (Skolverket) presented the latest PISA survey, revealing poorer results for Swedish fifteen-year-olds in mathematics and reading comprehension. It is particularly challenging for boys, with 30 percent failing in reading comprehension.

School results have become more important in society.

The issue is discussed in the debate programme Teodorescu & Suhonen on Swedish television, with researchers Jonas Vlachos and Fredrik Zimmerman.

Jonas Vlachos states that boys perform worse in school on average, but this is not something new or specific to Sweden.

However, school results have become more important, he argues. This is partly due to education becoming more crucial in society, as well as stricter eligibility rules and grades gaining greater significance in selection processes. As a result, the differences in academic performance between boys and girls have become more apparent.

Text by: Anneli Eriksson and Jonas Vlachos