2.4.2

Privatisation

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The Framework of Education Policies

Since the 1980s education policy has been influenced by four related factors: Neoliberalism, Globalisation, Privatisation and Marketisation.

Illustrative background for NeoliberalismIllustrative background for Neoliberalism ?? "content

Neoliberalism

  • Neoliberalism has links to the New Right and believes that the state should have a minimal role in providing and managing public services like education, relying instead on a system akin to how businesses operate in a free market.
Illustrative background for GlobalisationIllustrative background for Globalisation ?? "content

Globalisation

  • Globalisation, as it refers to education, is the formation of educational policy within a global context, using evidence drawn from comparisons with other countries (e.g. PISA).
  • This evidence had influenced changes to the curriculum, including the introduction of the EBacc which enables students to compete more effectively in a global market.
Illustrative background for PrivatisationIllustrative background for Privatisation ?? "content

Privatisation

  • Privatisation refers to the drive to make schools and colleges operate more like independent private businesses, such as managing their own affairs and competing with other schools through systems like league tables.
Illustrative background for MarketisationIllustrative background for Marketisation ?? "content

Marketisation

  • Marketisation is necessary if schools are to be run like businesses and might include publicity, advertising literature and open days in order to tempt parents (the consumer) to send their children to the school.

The Privatisation of Education

There is a difference between privatisation in education (endogenous privatisation) and privatisation of education (exogenous privatisation) (Ball and Youdell).

Illustrative background for Endo/exogenousIllustrative background for Endo/exogenous ?? "content

Endo/exogenous

  • Ball and Youdell distinguish between:
    • Privatisation in education (endogenous privatisation).
    • Privatisation of education (exogenous privatisation).
Illustrative background for Privatisation in educationIllustrative background for Privatisation in education ?? "content

Privatisation in education

  • Privatisation in education involves schools and colleges operating in similar ways to private independent businesses, including managing their own affairs, competing with other schools for pupils, and using target setting and league tables to measure progress.
Illustrative background for Privatisation of educationIllustrative background for Privatisation of education ?? "content

Privatisation of education

  • Privatisation of education refers to the opening up of state education to private businesses who design, manage or deliver education (e.g. privately managed chains of academy schools, private companies taking responsibility for the exam system or ICT companies like Apple and Google providing online curriculum content).
Illustrative background for Evaluating privatisation: positivesIllustrative background for Evaluating privatisation: positives ?? "content

Evaluating privatisation: positives

  • Privatisation creates more business-like and efficient schools, leading to raised standards and an increase in the school's popularity amongst a potential customer base.
  • Privatisation provides parents with more choices.
Illustrative background for Evaluating privatisation: negatives Illustrative background for Evaluating privatisation: negatives  ?? "content

Evaluating privatisation: negatives

  • Money might be drained from education and into private profit.
  • Privatisation might very well lead to more inequalities in education because schools will want to discourage those children from poorer and disadvantaged families who might threaten the schools league position.

Jump to other topics

1Theory & Methods

2Education with Methods in Context

3Option 1: Culture & Identity

4Option 1: Families & Households

5Option 1: Health

6Option 1: Work, Poverty & Welfare

7Option 2: Beliefs in Society

8Option 2: Global Development

9Option 2: The Media

10Crime & Deviance

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