2. Education and Ideology (Or Is It the Other Way Around?)

Chapter 2 contains an analysis of the impact of ideology on education. The authors explore the main issues defended by right- and left-wing political parties, and the extent to which they have become polarised in different countries, making consensus impossible. While parties on the left of the spectrum focus on equity, those on the right focus on parental choice and quality. This is followed by a more detailed investigation of ideological divides on specific issues: the role of the state versus private providers, the right of parents to choose, quality versus equity, education system architecture, teachers (skills, training, salaries), curriculum, student assessments and funding.