Making Rural Areas Attractive for Teachers and Principals: Putting Rural Educational Settings on the Agenda

Abstract

One cornerstone in the ‘Nordic model of education’ is equal opportunities in education (Frønes et al., 2020), however, the curricula of the Nordic countries are adapted to urban environments (Bæck, 2016). Regional-spatial aspects of education therefore need to be identified to find solutions to equal education. In this re-analysis of two research projects in Sweden and Finland, new insights are highlighted regarding how to develop nationwide equal education. The study proposes establishing supportive structures in the education of teachers and principals and in their continuing professional development in order to bring about equal education.

Keywords

• equal education
• rural
• remote
• small rural schools
• spatial justice