PRIVATE EDUCATION

Equality and Freedom in Education

Equality and Freedom in Education

Introduction

Private schools although not much in number as compared to the state schools have played a very active and important role in UK's economy and society. There are a greater number of evidences proving that the pupil of private schools add more to the economy and are more of a choice for top jobs. Private schooling is a very prominent characteristic of the education system around the globe. Private schooling provides an option to parents other than state schools to get their children educated. The rising trend of private schooling has provided parents with ample opportunities of school selection.

The difference in wages between private and state schools has increased with time. It is found through surveys that the students of private schools earn more salaries. Private schools provide quality education to the pupils specially the education that is most in demand with the modern economy. They design their curriculum in such a way as to facilitate their students on the latest knowledge. The increased wages that is a blessing earned through private schooling has made it a profitable choice for parents. But this difference of wages have caused inequality and decreased social mobility in society. Overview of the Changing Private Education Environment

The private schooling history of Britain dates back to 597 AD (Green et.al, 2010, pp. 4). Private schools make room for children from every category. They do not demarcate between the students. Their education policy allows every student a chance to get admission if that particular student meets the admission criteria. There are no distinctions because of religion or any specialized need. Private schools curriculum is designed in such a way that it offers something unique and different from what the state schools provides.

Parents believe that the result of private schooling on their child is advantageous both in academic and non academic sense. Academically their child gets properly educated and gets capable enough to reach into the good universities for further studies. And non-academically the child becomes a good person overall, get confident and gets command on the soft skills. These benefits together or individually help in acquiring good jobs and better salaries. For competing with the state schools private schools could also induce themselves into providing activities like music, sports and other cultural events which all lie connected to the academic package. Recent Changes

The trend of private education has changed over in recent years. During the 1960s and 1970s there had been growing unrest about the education system particularly in UK. By 1965 notification for drawing up plans for a comprehensive educational system were sent to the Local Educational Authorities. A commission was made to reanalyze the private education. At the beginning of the 1970s as the grammar schools were closing around the country and parents were scared from the effects of the comprehensive education system, private schools took this situation as an opportunity. The fearful parents only had two options either to unite together to ...