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This book examines the normative principles that guide the governance of education, in particular the notion of education as a public good. Determining whether this concept is still valid is a topic of growing importance, especially considering the phenomena of increasing privatisation and marketisation in the sector. The author posits that the prioritisation of economic aspects of education may lead to the weakening of the role of the State in ensuring equality of opportunity and social justice, and thus to a significant risk of considering education as merely a private, marketable good.
The volume argues that considering education as a common good can lead to the strengthening of democratic and participatory approaches to educational governance, based on the recognition of education as a shared endeavour and responsibility. It will be of interest and value to students and scholars of education as a public good, social justice, and the wider neoliberalisation of the education sector.
List of contents
Chapter 1. Introduction.- Chapter 2. Different interpretations of the concept of education as a public good in international discourse.- Chapter 3. Education: A private or public good?.- Chapter 4. A changing global education landscape: Growing involvement on non-state actors.- Chapter 5. Reframing the concept of education as a public good.- Chapter 6. Education as a common good.- Chapter 7. Going global: Education as a global common good.- Chapter 8. Conclusion.
About the author
Rita Locatelli is a postdoctoral research fellow at the International Research Centre on Global Citizenship Education at the University of Bologna, Italy.
Summary
This book examines the normative principles that guide the governance of education, in particular the notion of education as a public good. Determining whether this concept is still valid is a topic of growing importance, especially considering the phenomena of increasing privatisation and marketisation in the sector. The author posits that the prioritisation of economic aspects of education may lead to the weakening of the role of the State in ensuring equality of opportunity and social justice, and thus to a significant risk of considering education as merely a private, marketable good.
The volume argues that considering education as a common good can lead to the strengthening of democratic and participatory approaches to educational governance, based on the recognition of education as a shared endeavour and responsibility. It will be of interest and value to students and scholars of education as a public good, social justice, and the wider neoliberalisation of the education sector.
Additional text
“This book is an engaging, stimulating read that addresses some of the fundamental challenges, both logistical and conceptual, to the realisation of democracy in education. Locatelli should be commended for wading through what is some very muddy discourse to present a conceptually rich, provocative and accessible text on the importance of rethinking education through a democratic imaginary.” (Andrew Wilkins, Journal of Education Policy, November 27, 2019)
Report
"This book is an engaging, stimulating read that addresses some of the fundamental challenges, both logistical and conceptual, to the realisation of democracy in education. Locatelli should be commended for wading through what is some very muddy discourse to present a conceptually rich, provocative and accessible text on the importance of rethinking education through a democratic imaginary." (Andrew Wilkins, Journal of Education Policy, November 27, 2019)
