globalisation Flashcards
impact of globalisation on uk schools
- UK Schools now compete internationally
- UK Students have to compete internally for jobs and university places
- Ideas are now shared internationally
- Cola-isation of schools
UK Schools now compete internationally
UK schools now compete internationally as Education Systems are ranked through PISA tests which compare the educational performance of a range of countries such as testing 15-year-olds skilled in STEM. The data is then ranked in the form of league tables to show the relative performance of different countries. These results are then used by participating countries to monitor their education systems in a global context, such surveys influence educational policies in many countries. This results in the formation of new policies for educational improvement. OFSTED for example has used PISA test results to identify solutions to the UK. Alexander argues that PISA tests have led to educational moral panics over the state of British education and the search for improvements
evaluation of UK schools now competing internationally
Kelly argues that globalisation had led to a view that education is primarily an economic activity concerned with preparing students for work and meeting the needs of the economy and employers while ignoring things such as teaching social cohesion
UK Students have to compete internally for jobs and university places
UK Students have to compete internally for jobs and university places. All parties believe the purpose of education is to prepare students for jobs. Employers can hire any individual from anywhere in the world as a result of globalisation and they are more likely to hire workers from countries with better education systems. Students are now one of the biggest groups of migrants in 2020 35% of international students in UK unis were from China
ideas are now shared internationally
Holborn argues that globalisation has led to a multicultural curriculum, and a wider range of ideas in the curriculum, due to increased migration. This has created a more tolerant understanding of other cultures and religions.
Cola-isation of schools
According to Molnar, schools are targeted by private companies because schools are some kind of product endorsement. The private sector is penetrating education indirectly, for example through vending machines on schools premises. However, Ball argues that the benefits to schools and pupils of this private sector involvement are often limited. Beder found out that UK families spent £110,000 in Tesco supermarkets in return for a single computer for schools.
ways globalisation has impacted educational policy in the UK
- Through the creation of international rankings
- Increase the choice of different schools
- Led to the expansion of privatisation
- Impacted teaching and learning assessment
Through the creation of international rankings
One way in which globalisation has influenced educational policy in the UK is through the creation of international rankings. Ranking systems, such as the PISA tests, enable education systems to compare the performance of their students in maths, English and science against students globally. This is like the introduction of league tables in the UK. Governments can easily compare the performance of their own students against those of other countries and this
enables them to quantitatively examine the impacts of teaching, learning and assessment strategies as well as government educational policies. This enables them to pick the strategies that they believe will have the biggest impact on students in the UK and implement those strategies. An example of this is the proposal by then Education Secretary Michael Gove to extend the school day to mirror the longer hours in east Asian countries like South Korea and Singapore in order to improve student outcomes.
evaluation of through the creation of international rankings
However, many critics would suggest that ‘cherry picking’ policies from a nation that is performing well has a limited impact unless other social policies are implemented to compliment the educational policy. For example, Scandinavian countries with more socially democratic ideals tend to perform well but rely upon an expanded welfare state and a more collectivist mentality than is present in the UK with neoliberal ideologies and policies that target individuals. This limits the impact of globalisation in achieving positive outcomes.
Increase the choice of different schools
A second influence of globalisation on educational policy in the UK is the increase in the choice of different schools. Most notably, the concept of academies comes from the US Charter School system, whilst Free Schools are influenced by the Swedish Education System. Government educational policy is influenced by the performance of other nations education systems and at the time of selection, both options had evidence of improving outcomes and student experience. Charter schools also fit in with the ideology of the Blair and Brown government by allowing private investment into education. This was expanded further under the Cameron and Clegg government of 2010-2015
with proposals under the subsequent Conservative government to academize all secondary schools in the UK. This was heavily influenced by global economic policy of neo-liberalism, reducing state spending and allowing market forces to
dictate the education market. However, while many applauded the introduction of city centre academies as tackling social inequality in areas of deprivation, the results of wide scale academisation have been less successful. Recent investigations into the running of multi-trust academies have shown the
impacts of corruption, under-staffing and poor outcomes for students. Furthermore, Free Schools have predominantly benefitted the middle-classes
in the UK as they have been set up by wealthy individuals and groups of middle-class parents, demonstrating that the influence of globalisation is
primarily for those with more power and influence.
evaluation of Increase the choice of different schools
However, while many applauded the introduction of city centre academies as tackling social inequality in areas of deprivation, the results of wide scale academisation have been less successful. Recent investigations into the running of multi-trust academies have shown the impacts of corruption, under-staffing and poor outcomes for students. Furthermore, Free Schools have predominantly benefitted the middle-classes in the UK as they have been set up by wealthy individuals and groups of middle-class parents, demonstrating that the influence of globalisation is primarily for those with more power and influence.
Led to the expansion of privatisation
A further example of the influence of globalisation in educational policy has been the expansion of privatisation in the education system. Neo-liberal
economic policy has become the dominant economic policy in the era of globalisation, partly because of the role of the IMF and other International
Governmental Organisations. This has led to a rapid expansion of the educational market to be a multi-billion-pound operation that provides large profits for UK based educational institutions. The sale of naming rights by British public schools to overseas outlets, the expansion of UK Universities to
having international campuses and the growth of multi-academy trusts providing educational provision to the world’s lesser developed nations can be seen to be an influence of globalisation on governmental policy.
evaluation of Led to the expansion of privatisation
However, critics of these polices would suggest that there is an ulterior motive for the rapid expansion of UK educational institutions into the developing world. Marxists would suggest that the spread of Western education with its ideals of meritocracy and capitalism is a form of cultural imperialism that facilitates the spread of capitalist ideologies such as neo-liberalism and individualism. This positively impacts on the employment prospects for students in the UK, who gain skills that are needed in the developing world.
Impacted teaching and learning assessment
A further example of the influence of globalisation on educational policy has been the impact on teaching learning and assessment. In recent years, the UK Government has made proposals to change teaching learning and assessment to mirror more successful approaches in global education. Examples of this include changes to the National Curriculum so that it is more in line with the core content that is offered in other nations that are performing well in PISA rankings. Literacy and numeracy strategies that had students focusing a large percentage of their time on maths and English in order to improve their
performance in comparison to other nations. Whilst teachers have also faced comparisons on qualifications, with proposals for teachers to have higher entry qualifications, longer periods of teacher training and being appointed as ‘master teachers’ in areas, all influenced by policies in other nations.
evaluation of Impacted teaching and learning assessment
However, the application of these ideas are often theoretical rather than practical. The growth of academies has meant an increase in the number of unqualified teachers (particularly in shortage areas like Maths and STEM subjects) and a decline in the number of teacher training places at universities, but an increase in academy trusts training teachers and paying them an unqualified teachers wage. Ideas from other nations in terms of teaching, learning and assessment are often proposed, but fail to materialise due to a lack of funding or a clash of
ideologies.
