Globalisation is the increasing
This process demonstrates the private sector interconnectedness and
penetrating education indirectly. interdependence among
Economic Political
people, governments and
An example of this is through vending machines on companies worldwide.
school premises and the development of brand
loyalty through displays of logos and sponsorships. There are dimensions - Money, - Government
to globalisation: currency - Rules/Laws
- Economic - Value - War
- Political - Import - Commonwealth,
- Cultural - Export EU, NATO
- Trade (common
- Franchise agreements)
- Stock
exchange
Cultural - Fashion - Languages
- Food - Music
- Sports; world - Film
competition - Technology
Education -
Globalisation (2) Fragmented centralisation
Blurring the public/private boundary
Promoting academic and free schools has led to both
Many senior officials in public sectors such as increased fragmentation and increased centralisation of
head teachers are leaving to work for private control over educational provision in England.
sector education businesses.
The privatisation
of education - Fragmentation; the comprehensive system is being replaced by a
patchwork of diverse provision, much of it involving private
Privatisation involves the transfer of public providers, that leads to greater inequality in opportunities
assets such as schools to private companies.
In recent years, a trend of privatisation of
- Centralisation of control; central government
important aspects of education has occurred
alone has the power to allow/require schools
both in the UK and globally.
to become academies or allow free schools to
be set up. These schools are funded directly
In this process, education becomes a highly profitable source for capitalists.
by central government. Their rapid growth has
(Education as a commodity)
greatly reduced the roles of education’s ‘local
authorities’.
A fundamental change is taking place, in which privatisation is becoming the key factor
shaping educational policy.
Policy is increasingly focused on moving educational services out of the public sector.