Privatisation of Education Flashcards
What is the definition of privatisation
Where services which were once owned and provided by the state are transferred to private companies, charities or religious institutions.
How were school funded before privatisation
Funded directly by the government with taxpayer’s money and managed by local educational authorities
How did privatisation of education begin and how did it change how schools were funded
Began as a result of the Conservatives 1988 New Right policies but continued under New Labour and the Coalition governments.
The reduced role of the state and lack of funding often increases privatisation as the only way for schools to build new buildings etc is to source funding from private companies
What are PPIs (Public Private Partnerships)
Where private sector companies provide money to finance a variety of service. They often do this because they can gain promotion for their brand and also interest in payments– Ball claims they are 10x more profitable than private contracts)
What are examples of privatisation in education
Buildings (PFI’s)
Supply teachers
Resources – Microsoft Teams
Catering
Careers Advice
What is endogenous privatisation (internal - NR)
When schools operate like a business and are based on free market principles of competition and consumer choice with education (AKA Marketisation 1988)
What is exogenous privatisation (external- NR)
Aspects of the education system previously ran by the state are taken over by private companies
Eg New Labour PFI initiatives, Microsoft Teams
What is the benefit of endogenous privatisation (NR)
Has increased competition, standards and diversity of schools
What is the benefit of exogenous privatisation (NR)
Private companies are used to keeping costs down, being efficient and are specialised in specific areas. They can run certain aspects of education more effectively than the local authorities.
What are the 4 main negatives of privatisation of education
Narrowing the curriculum
Blurring the public/private boundary
Cola-Isation and Profit-making scheme
Education as a commodity
What is ‘Narrowing the curriculum’ as a negative of privatisation of education
Private businesses may change the type of knowledge which pupils are taught according to what they view as ‘profitable’ – eg increased emphasis on Maths and less of an emphasis on Critical Humanities subjects. This reduces choice, creativity, critical thinking and does not provide workforce with a diverse range of skills.
What is ‘Blurring the public/private boundary’ as a negative of privatisation of education
Private companies bid for contracts to provide services within education on a regular basis (PPP’s) - they are extremely profitable.
Many qualities senior leaders in education leave schools to work for these private businesses. Their ‘insider knowledge’ gives them an advantage to win contracts.
Some claim that it becomes more about profit than education – reducing the overall quality.
What is ‘Cola-Islation and Profit-making schemes’ as a negative of privatisation of education
The private sector creates brand loyalty through entering education indirectly. For example, through things like vending machines, partnerships and displaying logos.
Schools are targeted because they ‘carry goodwill and legitimise anything associated with them’ - in other words schools are a good form of advertisement as people trust them.
Not always beneficial for schools: UK families spent £110,00 in Tesco supermarket in return for one computer for schools.
What is ‘Education as a commodity’ as a negative of privatisation of education
Ball: Private Service Industry – Different aspects of education are becoming a source for capitalist private companies to profit.
Education is becoming a ‘legitimate profit-making business’
The state is losing its role as the provider of educational services
Hall (Neo-Marxist) supports this, arguing coalition policies are part of ‘the long march of neoliberal revolution’.
The claim privatisation improves standards is a myth to justify that education is now about profit for capitalists rather than pupil development.
