The rise of education privatization across the globe: comparative perspectives of global and Latin American trends with emphasis in Argentina and Brazil

Group Submission Type: Formal Panel Session

Proposal

This formal panel session will present and debate the rise of education privatization through a comparative perspective that will bring to the forefront the scenario in Latin America, while analyzing its relation to global privatization trends, and how these manifest and impact at the national level. Education privatization is part of a broader global context, in which it is possible to note an increasing presence of market values and practices in the educational sector, fostering profit making above all other dimensions of educational provision. In this context, the transfer of government duties and public resources to private third parties is observed, displacing the role of the State and undermining the human right to education.

Three researches will be presented, one of which looks at Latin American and the Caribbean, while the other two will focus on Brazil and Argentina. The invited discussant will bring to the table how these relate and echo the international scenario of education privatization and rising commercialization across the globe. The research titled Education Privatization in Latin America and the Caribbean: trends and risks to public school systems, presents how the rise of different forms of privatization in education in Latin America and the Caribbean, including endogenous and exogenous forms, impacts the realization of education as a universal human right. Charter schools and vouchers are discussed, as well as the rise of market values and practices in public education systems. Phenomena such as corporate governance, and how the private sector increasingly influences education policy debate and decision making, is approached, as well as how such actors increasingly work in forms of networks across the region. The role of mainstream media is also tackled, influencing people´s perception of public and private education. The impact of such trends is looked at, including the transfer of public resources to the private sector and the weakening of democratic governance, with students and teachers - particularly the latter- being side lined and devalued. Regarding the Brazilian context, the research titled Forms and dimensions of education privatization promoted by state governments in Brazil, between 2005 and 2015, presents and discusses three dimensions of basic education privatization at subnational level: public subsidy for private education enrollment; the transfer of public education management to private organizations and corporations; and the transfer of curriculum definition, methodology and evaluation to the private sector. This research shows hundreds of private actors involved in education privatization in different states of Brazil, with corporations influencing especially the richer states of the federation and with private foundations influencing especially the poorer ones. Furthermore, a reduction in the supply of public-school enrollment is observed especially in the poorest regions of the country: north -23.40% and northeast - 26%. The Argentinean education privatization scenario is looked at through the research titled Privatization trends “of” and “in” argentine education, indicating that the phenomena has gained new momentum at both the international and the regional levels, with direct impact at national level. In the case of Argentina, the research indicates the privatization agenda is driven by the current government -whose civil servants come mostly from the private sector- and by NGOs and foundations created and sustained, to a large extent, by business groups that seek to influence public policies with the objective of changing the course of education under the premise of achieving quality training for all. These organizations and foundations are promoting market values through education, as well as expanding business opportunities for private companies in the field of education. Standardization is also looked at, in particular regarding the consolidation of PISA as the key parameter of quality education. This research also looks at how the principles of New Public Management are updated in the current Argentinean context, promoting the idea of a professional and business management styles and techniques, the presence of CEOs and officials from the business sector in public roles and emphasis on results-based management, setting standards and performance measures as a solution to the problems of the educational system. The Chair and Discussant of this panel session will draw attention to the global phenomena of education privatization, pointing out actors, processes and trends that cut across different continents and countries, and to the importance of analyzing and studying education privatization at global, regional and national levels. Participants of this panel session will point out to forms of response and resistance a broad array of actors are putting in place, with emphasis in teacher unions, student movements, human rights civil society defenders and human rights committees and bodies.

Sub Unit

• General Pool

Chair

• Steven J. Klees, University of Maryland

Individual Presentations

• Education Privatization in Latin America and the Caribbean: trends and risks to public school systems - Camilla Croso, Latina American Campaign for the Right to Education; Giovanna Modé Magalhães, Latin American Campaign for the Right to Education (CLADE)

• Forms and dimensions of education privatization promoted by state governments in Brazil, between 2005 and 2015 - Theresa Adrião, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP); Adriana Dragone Silveira, Federal University of Parana - Brazil

• Privatization trends “of” and “in” argentine education - Myriam Feldfeber, Universidad de Buenos Aires

Discussant

• Antonia Wulff, EI