Ei-iE

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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 14 October 2015

    Germany: Education unions join in massive protest against EU-US trade deal

    An alliance of civil society organisations, including trade unions, mobilised more than 150,000 people to protest against the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, making it the biggest manifestation the country has seen in decades.

    Germany: Education unions join in massive protest against EU-US trade deal
  2. News 14 October 2015

    Germany: Education unions join in massive protest against EU-US trade deal

    An alliance of civil society organisations, including trade unions, mobilised more than 150,000 people to protest against the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, making it the biggest manifestation the country has seen in decades.

    Germany: Education unions join in massive protest against EU-US trade deal
  3. News 23 September 2015

    Global Labour Tax Summit: fairer taxation for quality education

    The Global Labour Tax Summit, held in Geneva, Switzerland, recently, stressed that current fiscal laxity is one of the main causes of growing inequality and chronic underfunding of public services in our societies.

    Global Labour Tax Summit: fairer taxation for quality education
  4. News 8 September 2015

    Latin America gears up anti-commercialisation strategy

    Latin American education unions have convened in Chile to build a common strategy that will tackle the increasing privatisation and commercialisation of education, in line with Education International’s latest policy priority.

    Latin America gears up anti-commercialisation strategy
  5. 1 September 2015

    Civil society fires back at magazine’s promotion of low fee for-profit schools

    The article published on 1st August by The Economist provoked an immediate response from highly recognised and respected international agencies and leading academics who wrote letters to the editor denouncing a biased and unsubstantiated journalism.

    Civil society fires back at magazine’s promotion of low fee for-profit schools
  6. News 24 July 2015

    Congress gears up anti-commercialisation strategy

    The resolution on privatisation in and of education received unanimous support at Education International’s world congress, giving way to a new policy strategy that aims at coordinating global and national responses.

    Congress gears up anti-commercialisation strategy
  7. News 22 July 2015

    Campaign against privatisation receives widespread support of Congress

    Education International’s campaign against the increasing privatisation in education received fulsome and passionate support from delegates at its 7th World Congress in Ottawa today (22 July).

    Campaign against privatisation receives widespread support of Congress
  8. News 3 July 2015

    Blog: bringing the big business of education into perspective

    Following up on their in-depth study on the commercialisation of education, Stephen J Ball and Carolina Junemann share their thoughts on how business and education policy converge to influence what it means to be educated.

    Blog: bringing the big business of education into perspective
  9. News 2 July 2015

    UN resolution urges States to monitor and regulate private education providers

    In what is being hailed as a landmark resolution, the United Nations Human Rights Council has urged States to regulate and monitor private education providers as well as recognise the threat of commercialised education.

    UN resolution urges States to monitor and regulate private education providers
  10. News 18 June 2015

    European Parliament divided over TTIP

    The clash between the two main constituencies has led the Parliament to postpone the voting, which in turn allows civil society more time to lobby for the protection of public services.

    European Parliament divided over TTIP
  11. Research

    Pearson and PALF: The mutating giant

    Dr. Carolina Junemann, Stephen Ball
    10 June 2015

    In their latest work, renowned researchers Carolina Junemann and Stephen J. Ball present a compelling read for anyone concerned about the right of every child to a free quality public education. They reveal that there is an ever-growing concern associated with the continual rise of the commercialisation and privatisation in...

    Pearson and PALF: The mutating giant
    1. Download
  12. News 19 May 2015

    Teacher union members fight to protect quality education from free trade

    The Independent Education Union of Australia, an affiliate of Education International, is lobbying the country’s government to reject the inclusion of educational services into the controversial Trade in Services Agreement.

    Teacher union members fight to protect quality education from free trade
  13. News 6 May 2015

    Education unions line up to oppose free trade agreement

    Education International affiliates around the world are applying a full-court press against plans to negotiate public services into the free trade agreement TiSA, sending a clear message to their governments that education is not for sale.

    Education unions line up to oppose free trade agreement
  14. News 5 May 2015

    EI: Education is not a commodity

    Reports that the governments of Australia, Colombia, New Zealand and Norway are proposing the inclusion of education within the scope of the TiSA are of grave concern.

    EI: Education is not a commodity