People have the wrong idea about choice. They think "Why do we want choice? We just want good schools." The point about choice is that this is a way to get those good schools. Choice is one side of a coin. On the other side is competition.
This is from an excellent article by David Green in the Telegraph today.
Sweden is the only European country operating a universal voucher scheme. The reforms began in 1992 when independent schools were guaranteed the right to receive funding from municipalities. Vouchers are now valued at 100 per cent of the average cost of a place in a local state school. Any type of school that meets the requirements of the National Agency for Education is entitled to this funding, whether religious, for-profit or charitable. Schools are prohibited from charging top-up fees and are not allowed to select pupils by ability. They must also meet specific academic standards and adhere to the national curriculum.The voucher system has resulted in an increase in independent providers. Before the reforms, independent schools in Sweden accounted for less than one per cent of pupils and few of those received any government funding. According to the Swedish National Agency for Education, there were 565 independent schools in 2004/05, accounting for 11 per cent of the 4,963 schools overall. An independent study found that competition from independent schools has improved results in state schools. Moreover, it has been found that new independent schools are more likely to be established in areas of under-performing state schools serving disadvantaged children.
Posted by James Bartholomew • Indexed in Education
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Did anyone else notice the lame excuses that came out the other day from the "failing schools"?
For example, The Independent profiled the worst-performing comprehensive school in the country and said:
"Anti-selection campaigners say it never stood a chance because it has to cope with local grammar schools creaming off what would potentially be its brightest pupils, and serves a poor neighbourhood. The school, which props up the league table with only 9 per cent of pupils obtaining the magic five top grade A* to C grade passes, is in Kent."
How quaint these campaigners are, to think that competition is a bad thing!? I mean, gosh, fancy a school having to cope with other schools offering a better education?! Utter nonsense. The sooner the state gets out of the education market/system, the sooner we will see children getting the education they deserve and need, and the education their parents can actually have confidence in.
Posted by: Raw Carrot at January 21, 2006 01:01 PM
"The other thing that most people don't understand is that the exercise of choice at the margin (i.e. by a few) hugely benefits even those that don't exercise choice. If just 10% of (paying) pupils go elsewhere it will have a powerful effect on the finances of a school and force them to improve or risk eventually going out of business."
Yes, it's very beneficial when your children's school goes out of business. Does wonders for their education.
Posted by: Matthew at January 27, 2006 08:52 AM
Matthew, it's the fear of going out of business which will force them to improve. Without this sanction, i.e. if they know that they'll get paid even if parents are unhappy, what incentive do they have to raise their game?
If a school goes out of business because there are better ones available that parents prefer, how will harm children's education if it goes out of business and, as a result, the other (better) schools get the custom.
Are you seriously suggesting that children should should be forced to stay at or go to a school, just so that school can stay open? What matters here, the school or the chldren? Or that perhaps the taxpayer should continue to fund a school that s unpopular? How will this be beneficial? Please explain.
Posted by: HJHJ at January 28, 2006 05:27 PM
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The other thing that most people don't understand is that the exercise of choice at the margin (i.e. by a few) hugely benefits even those that don't exercise choice. If just 10% of (paying) pupils go elsewhere it will have a powerful effect on the finances of a school and force them to improve or risk eventually going out of business.
Posted by: HJHJ at January 20, 2006 02:26 PM