We are celebrating the 10-year anniversary of Debats d’Educació by giving the educational community the opportunity to air its views
In the last few years new models of providing education services have proliferated around the world, incorporating the participation of the private sector to a greater or lesser degree. The current financial crisis increases use of the private sector as a mechanism to ensure the sustainability of public education systems. At the same time, there are agents who maintain that the incorporation of market logic into the education system (competition, free choice of schools, provision depending on demand, etc.) will mean improved efficiency and educational results. Policies including school cheques, charter schools in the US and free schools in the United Kingdom are clear examples of this.
Despite the gradual spread of these policies, the evidence of their benefits is inconclusive. The main risks concern the fairness of the education system. These approaches must be analysed in depth and the associated benefits and risks evaluated to ensure the quality and cohesion of the education system.