Privatization in and of Public Education

Privatization of education has become a prevalent global trend, representing a significant shift from viewing education as a public good to considering it as a private commodity. This transformation is closely tied to the modernization of the state under the principles of neoliberalism. A comprehensive analysis, as presented in this book using Ball and Youdell's framework, sheds light on the diverse patterns of privatization in education, categorizing them into two types: exogenous and endogenous. The term "exogenous" refers to policies that grant the private sector increased rights and authority to deliver education services. On the other hand, "endogenous" pertains to policies aimed at making public schools operate more like businesses. This paradigm shift encompasses various elements, including parental school choice, inter-school competition, accountability to parents, and increased autonomy for schools. Still, the book shows that advantages of education privatization are evident, such as heightened efficiency and the ability to cater to the diverse needs of the public schooling system. However, it is crucial to recognize that these benefits come with an inadequately addressed trade-off between efficiency and equity or inclusion. This trade-off stands as the most pressing contemporary challenge of education privatization, affecting various contexts and cases explored within the book. Prominent researchers in the field present a multi-faceted view of the forms and consequences of education privatization. Privatization in and of Public Education encompasses a wide range of countries and regions, including both developed and developing nations, offering valuable case studies that illustrate how privatization is unfolding across the globe. By examining the driving factors behind education privatization, such as economic, political, and social influences, the authors provide a comprehensive understanding of this global phenomenon.

Antonina Santalova is Academic Dean, Glion Institute of Higher Education and Associate Member, Department of Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford. Kaire Põder is Professor of Economics at Estonian Business School and a member of the Expert Group of Quality Investments in Education and Training, European Commission.