ABSTRACT
It may strike some as odd to describe education as a government industry where politicians control the means of production, but doing so highlights fundamental realities. Most children are educated in systems directly supported by taxation. These systems are controlled by government, and children are seen in policy terms as future employees and citizens of the country. In most countries the government is held accountable for education outcomes. This leads to a policy perspective stressing continuity and concentrating on educational outputs (often qualifications) in relation to education inputs (money).
