Ei-iE

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teacher remote learning

Fighting the commercialisation of education

Education is a human right and a public good that can be fully realised only through the provision of free, equitable, inclusive, quality public education. The growing commercialisation and privatisation in and of the sector is the greatest threat to the universal right to education.

Across the world, corporate interests are striving to transform all levels of education, from early childhood to higher education, into yet another market with winners and losers. As private-sector management models are applied to education institutions, employment conditions in the sector are being undermined. As low-fee, low-quality private schools expand rapidly, there is a risk that governments abrogate their responsibility to ensure the right to education for all. Unaccountable corporations have undue influence on education policies and institutions. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this trend which risks transforming education into a commodity, favouring profit over quality education.

As educators, we put students before profit. In 2015 we launched our Global Response to the Commercialisation and Privatisation of Education. Through this campaign, we work to expose and challenge the policies and practices of governments, intergovernmental organisations and international financial institutions which undermine public education and the rights and status of teachers and education support personnel. We also resist global corporate actors, especially education technology providers, who push the commercialisation and privatisation in and of education.

Our work in this area

  1. News 1 March 2016

    Liberia: for-profit wave about to hit public education

    With the government ready to outsource public education to for-profit providers in Liberia, unions are raising their voice against the perilous consequences that this decision could have on access and quality.

    Liberia: for-profit wave about to hit public education
  2. News 18 February 2016

    Haiti: United Nations report puts for-profit education on the side-lines

    The latest report of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on Haiti underlines the importance of free quality education and warns of the perilous effects of unregulated public-private partnerships.

    Haiti: United Nations report puts for-profit education on the side-lines
  3. News 10 February 2016

    Concern growing over the commercialisation of education in Ghana

    Education unions are urging the Ghanaian government to make amendments to its Education Act to ward off threats of commercialisation following a commitment to review the existing regulatory regime of private schools.

    Concern growing over the commercialisation of education in Ghana
  4. News 9 February 2016

    Kenyan unions brace against privatisation

    The growing privatisation of education has led Kenyan trade unions to set up a comprehensive strategy, ranging from research to advocacy, in an effort to preserve the quality and access to education for all.

    Kenyan unions brace against privatisation
  5. Publications

    Briefing: The potential impacts of the Trans-Pacific Partnership on education

    8 February 2016

    This briefing note looks into the potential impacts of the TPP for the education sector based on the text released on 5 November 2015. The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a comprehensive trade and investment agreement covering 40% of the global economy.

    Briefing: The potential impacts of the Trans-Pacific Partnership on education
    1. Download
  6. News 5 February 2016

    New Worlds of Education puts privatisation in the crosshairs

    The 45th edition of Worlds of Education takes an in-depth look at the scourge of privatisation and commercialisation, and reveals what needs to be done to ensure the right to free quality public education.

    New Worlds of Education puts privatisation in the crosshairs
  7. News 5 February 2016

    New Worlds of Education puts privatisation in the crosshairs

    The 45th edition of Worlds of Education takes an in-depth look at the scourge of privatisation and commercialisation, and reveals what needs to be done to ensure the right to free quality public education.

    New Worlds of Education puts privatisation in the crosshairs
  8. News 5 February 2016

    The European Parliament takes a stand to exclude education from TiSA

    The European Parliament has demanded that public services, including education, be excluded from the Trade in Services Agreement in its recommendations to the European Commission.

    The European Parliament takes a stand to exclude education from TiSA
  9. News 1 February 2016

    Always Learning

    Sam Sellar, Anna Hogan, Bob Lingard

    Always Learning

    Always Learning