Impact of neoliberalism on Australian education
Neoliberalist attitudes have meant public and private institutions in Australia compete for students now more than ever. There has been a deliberate shift towards corporate branding and clever marketing campaigns, as well as promoting performance results to attract enrolments (Meadmore * & Meadmore, 2004, p. 375). Tactics more readily expected from a corporation. The division of state and private education in Australia, highlighted in 2003, when the Australian Bureau of Statistics cited that approximately 32% of all Australian students attended non-government schools, compared to just 7% in the United Kingdom and 11% in the United States (Meadmore * & Meadmore, 2004, p. 376). A school of thought proposes de-regulation and that competition breads better outcome and as such is a founding argument for neo-liberalism.
This current discourse supports the national trend toward centralisation of education. As evidenced in the roll-out of the Australian Curriculum (ACARA)(Australian …show more content…
The reforms of the 19th and 20th century, where education was for the public good are a concept of the past. The education sector is now a highly competitive business marketplace, where the focus is on high stakes testing and other means of measuring performance and data. Education now centres on outcomes. Education theorists are more concerned than ever about the neoliberalist philosophies embedded in the educational landscape. There is great concern about the inequalities that this ideology creates. If the education system continues to ignore and discount the research around social factors that influence educational outcome, we will see more marginalised and disadvantaged groups in our society. The Gonski system has made inroads into this area, but it is crucial that seek policy changes that provide a more equitable educational system for all those
Neoliberalist attitudes have meant public and private institutions in Australia compete for students now more than ever. There has been a deliberate shift towards corporate branding and clever marketing campaigns, as well as promoting performance results to attract enrolments (Meadmore * & Meadmore, 2004, p. 375). Tactics more readily expected from a corporation. The division of state and private education in Australia, highlighted in 2003, when the Australian Bureau of Statistics cited that approximately 32% of all Australian students attended non-government schools, compared to just 7% in the United Kingdom and 11% in the United States (Meadmore * & Meadmore, 2004, p. 376). A school of thought proposes de-regulation and that competition breads better outcome and as such is a founding argument for neo-liberalism.
This current discourse supports the national trend toward centralisation of education. As evidenced in the roll-out of the Australian Curriculum (ACARA)(Australian …show more content…
The reforms of the 19th and 20th century, where education was for the public good are a concept of the past. The education sector is now a highly competitive business marketplace, where the focus is on high stakes testing and other means of measuring performance and data. Education now centres on outcomes. Education theorists are more concerned than ever about the neoliberalist philosophies embedded in the educational landscape. There is great concern about the inequalities that this ideology creates. If the education system continues to ignore and discount the research around social factors that influence educational outcome, we will see more marginalised and disadvantaged groups in our society. The Gonski system has made inroads into this area, but it is crucial that seek policy changes that provide a more equitable educational system for all those