Early futurological IT policy for school and society – a Swedish case

The article concerns early futurological Swedish information technology (IT) policy in the 1990s. Focus is given to investigating Information technology–Wings to man’s ability, as part of which teachers in school were given the task of being the agent in the process of implementing IT in Swedish schools and society. The results showed that the proposed reforms were high-flying and intertwining IT policy and school policy. The reforms adhered to a market-based reform ideology and were wrapped in both conservative and liberal education reforms. The social construction of IT was shaped by the groups holding power, i.e. ministers in the conservative government and industry representatives. By excluding teachers and educational researchers from the policy process, closure and consensus were reached on behalf of those expected to be agents of change when it came to implementing the policy: teachers.