Strategies against the increasing privatisation of schools
Contents Introduction 3 Public or private education system? 4 Commercial or non-profit organisation? 4 The situation for schools 5 Union of Education Norway holds the view that 5 Initiatives against increased privatisation at all levels of the organisation 6
Introduction Union of Education Norway is of the view that all education should be under the control of public authorities. Through strategies against increasing privatisation we will work for a public education sector. The strategies are meant to send out a strong signal against increasing privatisation of schools. The objective is to ensure that public funding benefit the students and ensure that public authorities retain control of the quality standards and content of schools. Through these strategies we will bring attention to the role and influence of the teaching profession to provide equality and quality in education. We will also work to secure decent wages and working conditions for school employees. Images: Therese Borge & Ole Walter Jacobsen Utdanningsforbundet 3
Public or private education system? Increased privatisation will allow private operators to control both the running and ownership of the schools. The ability of public authorities to maintain control of quality standards and content in the sector will be weakened. It will also reduce the ability of local and central authorities to influence development in the sector, and also reduce their ability to reverse such a situation. Union of Education Norway is of the view that private schools should only be an alternative educational or denominational objective, to be subject to state support. The education sector should otherwise remain public. Commercial or non-profit organisation? Commercialisation has revenue as an objective, and a commercial operator is out to make a profit. Despite the prohibition of dividends by legislation, it is still possible commercial operators to generate profit through the purchase and sale of products or services associated with the running of schools. In contrast to commercial enterprises, the goal of non-profit organisations is to remain in financial balance so that they are self-financing and public funding benefit the students. When commercial operators own schools, public school funding become profit for the owners. 4 Utdanningsforbundet
The situation for schools 97 percent of students attend municipal primary and lower secondary schools. The number of private schools has increased by 65 percent in the last 12 years. The numbers of Montessori schools have increased almost five-fold during the same period. Montessori schools are mainly small schools that replace closed municipal schools in the same area most often in sparsely populated areas. There are also a number of private operators within upper secondary education. However, the majority of these schools are run by county authorities. In the autumn of 2012, there were a total of 427 colleges of upper secondary education, of which 344 were run by county authorities, two state operated schools and 81 privately run. Since 2002 the number of colleges of upper secondary education in Norway has reduced by 57. There are 7 fewer private schools than in the academic year 2007/2008, the year that the new private school act was passed. Union of Education Norway holds the view that Privatisation threatens the principle of equal education opportunities The sector must be subject to stricter quality standards; among other things national regulations regarding the student/teacher ratio The most important individual initiative to increase quality standards is to retain and to recruit more qualified teachers Additional and better initiatives must be implemented to achieve the ambitious goals that have been set for improving competence in the sector Municipal and county authorities must retain control of schools through active ownership Wages and working conditions for employees in private schools must be secured both through legislation and through improved tariff agreements Approximately 7 percent of students attended private schools in the autumn of 2012, and this proportion has remained stable since 2007/2008. Utdanningsforbundet 5
Initiatives against increased privatisation at all levels of the organisation Union of Education Norway is working at all levels of the organisation against increased privatisation. It is important to be at the forefront of policy development, both locally and centrally. All structures of the organisation must be actively involved in the political work against increased privatisation. Local initiatives: Monitor the situation in each municipality, herein, the possibility and eventual consequences of increased privatisation based on the political situation as well as budgetary situation etc. Highlight the situation and the consequences through (preventive) alliances and cooperation with policymakers, teachers, other employees in the sector and parents Disseminate information to and be in dialogue with policymakers and municipal administrators regarding the consequences of increased privatisation 9 9 Inform the regional level about plans to privatise schools in your own municipality 6 Utdanningsforbundet
Regional initiatives: Monitor the situation in your own region and any potential risk of consequences of increased privatisation based on the political situations, budget situation etc. Coordinate input from different municipalities to ensure exchange of information Disseminate information to and be in dialogue with policymakers and the administration in the region regarding the consequences of increased privatisation Disseminate information to and hold dialogue with the County Governor Act as a link between local and a central levels in the organisation Put forward a demand for a collective bargaining agreement for all private schools in the region Build alliances with relevant stakeholders Train local employee representatives and members Central initiatives: Lobby central authorities in regard to stricter quality standards regulations Initiate a programme for training of employee representatives from municipalities and regional authorities Dedicate an area on the Union of Education Norway s website, collating information about privatisation (arguments, reports, research, cases, experiences from local/regional organisations, own analysis etc.) Lobby the government and political parties, in regard to retaining the present Private Schools Act Build alliances with relevant stakeholders 9 9 Lobby policymakers to secure collective bargaining agreements in new and existing private schools Utdanningsforbundet 7
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