Education should be a private good

[StaffAssociationRepresentative]

Given the high levels of dissatisfaction with regards education should we not now make it a private good? The government should only provide education for free for those who are below the poverty level and then provide a sliding scale of support in a manner similar to child support. This will then give some schools the chance to charge more to ensure that any provision can be properly funded.

This will lead to happier schools, happier staff, happier pupils and a happier Mumsnet. Parents will therefore be free to buy provision that they want.

YABU - let education continue as it is
YANBU - fully privatise and let parents decide

@emz771 you're charmingly naive. All that happens is that the funding reduces! The money set aside for 10,000 people is reduced by 10% so these people don't suddenly get a better service. They get the same service. Although it's actually not quite so good because the people who expect and demand quality service, ie. the middle classes who have the clout to make the service better for everyone, fucked off to Bupa leaving an impoverished service behind. That's obvious, no?

I will probably be shot down in flames for this, but I always thought that state education was for people who couldn't afford or didn't want to pay for their children to go to school.

Probably was the case once but not for about 90 years!

Bubbletrouble43 - I am 61, all my family, for several generations, was privately educated.

Your expensive education has left you surprisingly ignorant!

@emz771 and ultimately a you do is create two tier system with the rich paying for a great service and the poor putting up with the dregs. Which exacerbates social inequality which had been shown over and over to reduce overall well-being for everyone.

I'll say it again... Do people really think that the existence of first class in aeroplanes makes economy better?

And then we're back to Victorian Britain.

But that’s life surely that private medical care is going to be a superior service than the NHS?

I’m not saying the actual operation should be any better (because they are usually the same surgeons) but surely it’s obvious that the whole experience will be a superior one?

The world isn’t equal.

And then we're back to Victorian Britain

Rees-Mogg's dream!

But it’s not though is it. Everybody should have a basic right to healthcare and education - and everybody in this country does have that regardless of if you are a billionaire or minimum wage.

But surely when you pay large amounts of money for something - then you expect a better service?

Surely that’s just common sense?

Wow. I've never heard a worse idea in my life. Ever heard of the concept of equality if opportunity? So only rich people's kids get a decent education. Also, long term, rybbish for the countrys standing and economy. Would Inevitably lead to a small pool of 'talent' in top jobs cos of reduced competition. Leading to too many mediocre (at best) people in those positions. I hope this isn't a serious post. Or are you Dominic Cummings?

@opticaldelusion nothing wrong with trying to get out what was my council estate. We weren’t all born into middle class naice

When parents are customers theres a lot of focus on making things look good, sometimes to the detriment of educational outcomes. Atleast that was my experience teaching at a hagwon

This idea is mental and posted by someone who clearly has their head up their arse and hasn't set foot in the real world for some time.

Hmm. I hope that you're not justifying a rubbish idea by suggesting that we are all bourgeois whingers? If you think it's such a great idea, how about sticking to the 'merits' of your case, instead of suggesting that it just be a great idea cos I grew up on a council estate? Poor tactics

Well employers are going to have to pay their staff a lot more money if this idea was going to work. If you've got the money it's fine but not everyone can afford to pay such high fees. You seem to just assume everyone has the extra money for fees.

that it must be a great idea cos you grew up on a council estate.

The idea is bonkers by the way OP!

How about just investing in it properly so everyone gets a fair shot??? Diminish the need for private schools? You are bonkers op

Tara the need for private schools will always be there.

To be fair to you, OP, you say you want the education system to be properly funded. But the only fair way to do this is through the tax system. Any other system inevitably results in inequalities. And given the importance of as level a playing field as possible at the start for kids, i can't see any other option. I also 100% agree on cracking down on tax dodgers like the big corporations. If there were a genuine political will to do this, it could be done. And before I'm accused of being some lefty blah, blah. A lot of tax abuse was (inadvertently) started under Blair. My ex BIL (who is a big player in tax avoidance. And a total cunt) once told me 'Blair made me a millionaire'

@P999 - glad my background amuses you

It doesn't amuse me. But it felt like you were trying to use it as a trump card. I'm sorry if that was unfair. But i still don't think it makes your arguments any more tenable. Like I say though, i see that the starting point is that you want education to be properly funded. I just fundamentally disagree with the proposal