For the Nation and the Future: Historical Snapshots into Refugee Education during the Last 100 Years in Finland and Sweden

Abstract

The role of education for school-aged refugee children has evolved throughout history, influenced by time, geopolitical contexts, public perceptions, and ideas about the purposes of education. This article examines refugee education in Finland and Sweden over the past century, focusing on three periods. The first is the 1920s, when newly independent Finland agreed to the migration of large groups of refugees from Russia. The next phase is the 1940s, when Finnish children were sent as forced migrants to Sweden. Finally, we consider the 1980s–1990s, when large groups of refugees from outside Europe arrived in the Nordic countries. Our analysis shows that arrivals received varying degrees of welcome. The discourse on refugee education shifted from a Christian duty to care toward rationality, scarce resources, and security, with refugee students seen either as potential citizens or temporary visitors.