Role of education in society - New Right

The New Right and their purpose of education

A conservative political view that incorporates neoliberal economic ideas - the state is unable to meet people’s needs, so people are best left to meet their own needs through the free market.

This is why the New Right favour the marketisation / privatisation of education, and that education should meet the consumer’s needs, the needs of the economy and prepare children for work.

The problem with state education (30 years ago)

• State education is failing, which is evident by the underachievement of some social groups.

• The state education system takes a ‘one size fits all’ approach. This disregards local needs and prioritises uniformity.

• The consumers who use the school (pupils, parents and employers) have no say in the education given. Schools are unresponsive to the needs of the economy.

• Eventually, schools that waste money or get poor results are not answerable to their consumers.

Marketisation

• The solution to this is to create a free market.

• Competition between schools and empowering consumers will lead to greater diversity, choice and efficiency to schools, which will increase the school’s ability to meet the needs of pupils, parents and employers.

Characteristics of a free market economy for education

• Profit → creating funding per pupil

• Minimal government intervention → schools have more freedom

• Competition → Ofsted, League Tables

• Adaptability → schools can change to respond to consumer needs

Chubb and Moe

• W/C children were given vouchers to access education at school that they choose, rather than the nearest school.

• This led to the W/C performing better.

• Therefore, a free market (competition and choice) is better for the consumer.

Evaluation

• Both Functionalists and the New Right favour an education system ran on meritocratic principles of open competition, and one that serves the needs of the economy by preparing young people for work (role allocation).

• Both Functionalists and the New Right believe that education should socialise pupils into shared values, such as competition, and instil a sense of national identity (citizenship)

• Critics argue poor education outcomes came from a lack of funding in education.

• Germite argues that there is no free consumer choice and the M/C use their cultural capital to get their kids into the ‘best’ schools (play, pay or pray the system)