To Radio 4 “Feedback”

Re: “Talking Politics” 12th April 2008

 

PRIVATISATION OF EDUCATION

 

 

I've just listened to your "Talking Politics" programme on education (12th April)

 

All three contributors and the presenter advocated the full blown privatisation of education, using the voucher system - first developed by General Pinochet in Chile as part of his drive against the state system of education developed by the government he had just overthrown by military coup.

 

Not one of your contributors referred to any evidence to substantiate their view that breaking up the state comprehensive education system, and turning our schools over to faith groups, millionaire "sponsors" and private sector profit based companies would improve standards.

 

All the evidence, conducted both in the UK and internationally, suggests the opposite. The most established and respected of this research, the OECD PISA studies, concludes that an integrated, publicly funded, comprehensive education system provides the best opportunities and outcomes for all our children.

 

The drive to break up our education system is nothing do to with educational standards, and everything to do with privatisation, and the worldwide drive to make profit from public services.

 

If we really want to see improvement in educational standards, we need government policies designed to tackle and eradicate child poverty.

 

The biggest single determinant of a child's success in education is their social class background - the realtive wealth and poverty in which their family lives. This too is not just opinion, but the outcome of decades of research.

 

The government - and future governments - face a choice. Privatise our education system to create yet more profit and wealth for the few, or invest in state education, and introduce measures to overcome the growing wealth/poverty gap - for the benefit of the large majority population.

 

I wonder which they, Tory or New Labour, will choose.

 

Bill Greenshields

Teacher, parent, grandparent

National President National Union of Teachers

 

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