EQUITY, EDUCATION AND NEOLIBERALISM: INTERNATIONAL REFLECTIONS

Education is widely considered as key to developing and supporting a countries and its citizens ability to develop. The key driver of Finnish educational policy has been to promote equity of opportunity for each child to learn regardless of socio-economic status, family background and geographic location. The emphasis has not been on developing academic brilliance, but to propose social equality. The OECD undertakes an annual PISA survey, comparing 15 year old achievement in reading, maths and science. Finland’s achievement since 2000 has been consistent been in the top quartile, despite average investment, limited teaching hours and average class sizes. Since the 1980’s many countries have undertaken a range of policy reform, many of which has been informed by neoliberal economic doctrine, which appears to increasingly proposed as Margaret Thatcher suggested as “no other choice” (Felix, 2005: 407). These efforts encompass reshaping economies, but also educational institutions, professions and the public sector as a whole. This paper seeks to critically explore the role of equity in education, reflecting on the experience of researchers currently undertaking an EU Frame Work 7, Marie Currie project. This paper uses the experience of researchers from Finland, Italy, UK, South Africa, India and Russia to explore the impact of neoliberal reform to educational policy and outcomes.