Neoliberalism and the role of education

• Neoliberals argue that the state shouldn’t provide services such as education, health and welfare. Neoliberal ideas have influenced all government since the 1970s.
• Neoliberalism is based on the idea that the state shouldn’t try regulate a free market economy for example they shouldn’t tell people how to dispose of their own properties; indicating the importance of individual responsibility.
• neoliberals argue that the value of education dictates on how well it allows the county to compete in a global marketplace. They also argue that this can only be achieved if schools become more business-like and compete against other schools to increase the standard.
• The new right is a conservative view that believes in neoliberal economic ideas and marketization.
• One of the new right’s ideas is that the state cannot meet individual needs and individuals should meet their own needs through the free market.
• Why are the new right similar to the functionalists ?

  Because they believe that some people are naturally talented than others.

  They believe that education should be competitive and individuals should have shared values.

  They agree that the education system should have meritocratic principles.
• What’s the difference between functionalism and the new right?

  A key difference between functionalism and the new right is that the new right believe that education hasn’t achieved the goals it should be because it’s run by state; where politicians input their views creating uniformity.

  This results to lower standard for pupils achievement and consequently a less successful work force.
• What’s the new rights solution to education?

  The new rights solution to this is the marketization of the education system as creating competition between schools can lead to a diversity increase.
• Chubb and moe (1990) - new right perspective 


  Claims that the American state education system has failed to create equal opportunities for example ethnic minorities, class etc and fails to give individuals the skills that the economy needs.
• what’s the two roles for the state?

  to include shared culture and single heritage.

  1. To provide competition between school to increase standards e.g ofstead inspections.