Privatizing Education in the USA - Example

Student’s Name: Instructor’s Name: Class Name: Date Assignment is due: Privatizing Education in USA Human capital is one of the immensely essential factors in any economy in the world. It is, therefore, extremely vital for government and economic drivers to ensure that the economy generates the required number and quality of human resources to drive the economy. Education system is entrusted with the responsibility of developing economy oriented human resource. The process of preparing individuals from their childhood up to the point they are productive to the economy, is extremely complex one. Education systems, therefore, require proper planning, control, financing and evaluation. A failed education system endangers the economy of the country concerned. This is the reason why most governments across the world treat education as a social welfare, and have taken the initiative of planning, controlling, funding, and standardizing among others. In United States of America, there has been open debate for several years concerning the privatization of the education system. Privatization is the process of transfer of control, assets, activities and responsibilities from the public owned institution or organization into private practice organization. In case of privatization of education, it concerns the change from public to private provision, regulation, decision making, accountability and funding. This literature tries to argue on reasons why education should be privatized in United States of America. On the other hand, the paper discusses some factors, which favor public provision of education as opposed to the privatization process. There are various reasons amounting to the pressure to privatize education system in United States. This factor includes the need for the family participation, demand pressures, and supply pressures among other pressures in the economy (Partonos 62-80). Privatization of the education system gives the family member a chance to make a decision on the best education centers, and quality of education that fits their children. This is unlike in the public, controlled system, where the government educational agencies decide who and where to study. There are several ways through which privatization of education system enhances family participation. First, the use of education vouchers in which, each student will be given a voucher acceptable in both the private and public schools. Families will decide which school fits their children and take them there, if there are chances. Secondly, parents in a privatized system will have a chance to participate in decision making concerning the quality, policies and control of education offered to their children. There are two main reasons why parent participation in the education system should be enhanced. First, parents have the right for whatever reasons to decide what is best for their children. It is likely that parents can improve their children’s welfare in a better way than government agents. They understand their children and hence, they can come up with better educational programs and systems than the government officials can do. In the case where there are alternatives based on religion, tradition, culture, and believes, parents have a chance to decide which alternative should their children take. Secondly, parents have a chance to hold the school they choose for their children accountable for the education offered. This creates a sense of responsibility in school administration, as they are pressured by parents. On the other hand, the education system turns competitive as parents can freely transfer their children to preferred schools. As a result, schools strive in maintaining high standards; to retain existing learners and if possible to attract others. The second factor behind the privatization of education is the demand pressure. Education is one of important factors through which one can gain social and economic progress. This is the case in all the states in United States as a result, demand for education has increased (Partonos 62-80). People all over the country strive to attend schools, or ensure that their child goes to school. The demand has also grown as a result of the growing population in United States. As a result, of the increased demand and the fact that we have the no child left behind policy, the government is unable to fully fund public education. The excess demand mounts pressure on the need for privatization of the education system. On the other hand, there is the differentiated demand in which in some scrupulous cases, parents feel that the uniform education does not reflect their values (West 83-103). For example, United States offer uniform education to all children despite a Muslim, Buddhist, Christian or any other religious group. As a result, parent, for example; the Muslim would demand Koran classes for their children. The same case, apply for other groups, and hence; they call for differentiation, which can be offered in private school better than in public schools. The pressures of differentiated demand have also increased as a result of immigration, and the need for specialized society. The privatization of education will help in development of the differentiated education, as well as accommodating emigrates from countries where specialization has taken place. Thirdly, as the quality of education declines below the expectation, as well as under funding from the government, this stimulates the need for privatization. Many parents and scholars have demonstrated dissatisfaction in public school education and hence, call for alternative. For some years, the education system in United States has indicated inefficient and inappropriate for both the learners and the economy. On the other hand, it is clear that enrolment has exceeded the level of government funding. As a result, the schools are overcrowded as the size and the numbers of classrooms have not changed. The facilities have not been expanding to accommodate the increased enrolment. With the increased government expenditure particularly in the military operation in foreign countries, the government has no additional funds to allocate to the education sector. This is expected to continue in the future as the country try to fight terrorism among other military activities. The supply pressures have also affected higher education in America. Higher education is characterized by the high cost per unit, as compared to primary and secondly school. The government has found it challenging to fund education fully, and therefore, have called for students to bear greater financial burden than before. This calls for the establishment of private institutions to counter the supply pressure and stabilize costs. Global economic and social change calls for more efficient, flexible, and expansive education. Modern market systems call for liberalization in the education systems (Partonos 62-80). As a result, the need for privatization of education, mounts into uncontrolled levels. A high percentage of student in higher learning institutions in United States are international students, and therefore, they do not enjoy government funding. They pay directly to the universities and colleges in private arrangements. These incidences, call for the stakeholders to adopt the process of privatization, for the education system to remain relevant in the international market. International aid organizations, for example, the World Bank advocates on corroboration with private institutions in funding education, rather than the public owned institutions. This is evidenced in various countries, such as El Salvador, where private banks are involved in administration of scholarship. Similar initiatives have been effected in Indonesia, Mali, and Dominican republican among others. With the increased need for further education funding, it is, therefore, inevitable for United States to privatize education, and enjoy the further funding from such organizations. Finally, privatization of education is immensely essential in reduction of inequality in public schools. In United States, rich people enjoy the freedom of school choice through various means. This includes residential decisions, political support, and financial influence to avoid low ranked public schools. In this case, the system turns to be discriminative calling for the privatization particularly, through the use of voucher program to reduce the intense of discrimination. On the other hand, despite the burning debate to privatize education in united state, there are four issues on which we cannot undermine the public school system. These factors include funding, importance, equality, and uniformity. First, funding education is not a cheap undertaking; very few private institutions can afford to fully fund education (Belfield and Levin 279-341). It is, therefore, impossible to let the private sector provide education in United States, on the basis of the fact that they cannot afford. The government has the financial power, and therefore, it can easily afford to fund education for its people. This is done through building of schools and additional class, purchasing of equipment, payment of teacher and education management officials all over the country. Secondly, education is known as a social good. It is, therefore, the responsibility of the government to provide education to its citizens. This advocates for the system of education to remain in the hands of the public sector. Education is one of the ways in which the government influences the society towards its policies and economic plans. There is the need to have the government being involved in the formulation, planning and control of education in the country. Through privatization, the government is likely to lose control of education in United States of America. Thirdly, public education system ensures that there is uniformity in the education system. This is through the standardized curriculum and examinations with the centralized office of control. This brings about social cohesiveness, where every child is exposed under the same education as oppose to the privatization. This ensures that all children from poor or rich families are exposed under the same education, and eventually have equal, competitive opportunities in the society. Fourthly, equality in education is immensely essential to the society and the country. This is the concept where those interested in education are given equal opportunity. In United States of America, public education is guided by the slogan ‘no child left behind’ which advocates that every child should have access to education. Privatization of education calls for more participation of parents in funding education than before. As a result, children from poor families may find it hard to continue with their education on the basis of lack of funds. In conclusion, it is clear that education is an immensely significant fact in personal, social and economy life in any country, including the United States of America. The government plays an immense role in the process of citizens’ education through the funding, control and planning of the education system in united statement (West 83-103). The public education as offered by the government has proved some deficiencies on the bases of quality, efficiency and relevance in one way or the other. Privatization of education as advocated aims at reducing the inefficiencies and challenges faced in public education system. None of the two systems can be fully effective and efficient on its own. It is, therefore, recommended that the two systems should be run concurrent to strengthen the education system in United States of America. Works Cited Belfield, C R. and Levin, HM. ‘The Effects Of Competition On Education Outcomes: A Review Of United States Evidence’. Review of Educational Research, 27(2000): 279-341. Partonos, H, M. Market forces in education: Journal of Education, 35(2000): 62-80. West, EG. Education vouchers in principle and practice: a survey in; World Bank Research Observer, 12.1 (1997): 83-103. Read More