Globalisation and education

Question 1

Privatisation of education

Answer 1

[the transfer of public assets such as schools to private companies which causes education to become a source of profit for capitalists in, what Ball calls, the education services industry (ESI).]

This is happening as private companies are involved in building new schools, providing supply teachers, careers advice, Ofsted inspections, catering in schools, etc.
These private companies make huge profits from this, while local authorities have no choice but to enter in these public-private partnerships (PPPs) as a there is a lack of funding from the central government.
There is also a blurring of public/private boundaries as many former head teachers set up such companies, using their insider knowledge to win contracts from local authorities.

Question 2

The cola-isation of schools

Answer 2

The private sector is also entering the education system indirectly through, for example, vending machines in schools. This is called the cola-isation of schools.
Molnar claims that private companies target schools as schools can confer legitimacy to their products.

Criticism - the benefits to students of such deals are often limited. For example, Cadbury’s sports equipment promotion would have required students to eat over 5000 chocolates to win a set of goalposts.

Question 3

Criticisms of privatisation of education

Answer 3

Ball is very critical of these processes that are moving the education sector from pubic to private control as it is becoming the object of profit making.

Question 4

Globalisation of education policy

Answer 4

Many private companies in the ESI are foreign-owned, e.g. the exam board Edexcel is owned by the US publishing and testing company Pearson.
British companies are exporting UK education policy to other countries, e.g. Ofsted style inspections, and then running the provision of these services in those countries for profit.
As a result, governments are becoming less important in policy making

Globalisation has led to the greater sharing of ideas about education as politicians and teachers learn about alternative ideas about teaching from other countries, e.g. Chinese teachers visiting our school.
Secondly, globalisation has meant that education now has to meet the needs of a global economy as workers are required to be highly skilled, able to use technology and be geographically mobile.
Also, as people move from country to country, education has to deal with the challenge of new students from other cultures. .

Question 5

Educational policies influenced by globalisation

Answer 5

Lifelong learning – the economy requires a highly skilled workforce that can rapidly respond to technological advances. As a result, the government has had to provide opportunities for adult learning to ensure people have the skills to make them employable.
Individual learning – individualism is a feature of postmodernity so students are encouraged to think about their own style of learning.
Curriculum – inclusion of global issues into the curriculum.
School policies - focusing on inclusion and equality as most schools are now culturally diverse.