Education Privatization

Résumé du livre

"Privatization" has become a catchword the world over, championed by some as a panacea for all ills, and branded by others as the cause behind increasing social inequalities. Education is not exempt from this loaded debate. In both developed and developing countries, schools are facing pressure to privatize the management and financing of education. In developed countries, education privatization primarily concerns questions of management and accountability. It is considered that parents should be able to choose the education they wish for their children, be it for religious, ethical or pedagogical reasons. In developing countries, state finance and taxation systems are still under construction, and increasing private schooling and financing may be the only way in which the education system can grow to accommodate the increasing demand. Yet, while the privatization of education may reduce government spending, in many cases it places a greater burden on families who have children in schools. This booklet proposes a certain number of criteria to evaluate the effectiveness of privatization policies, including efficiency and equity considerations. It weighs up the positive and negative aspects of privatization, and explores the different forms that it can take. In an area where the debate up until now has often been based more on ideology than evidence, the authors make a clear presentation of the different issues at stake for all parties concerned, in both developed and developing countries.