ABSTRACT
This chapter locates the facts, concepts and policies relating to equality and inequality in schools and in the wider education system within the wider policy context of neo-liberalism, which emphasizes privatization and competitive markets in education and in social and welfare policy more generally. Neo-liberalism is also a global phenomenon – similar restructuring of schooling and education has taken place across the world. The chapter examines the effects of neo-liberal policies in increasing inequalities and makes a number of theoretical criticisms of neo-liberalism. The chapter concludes by constructing a critique of neo-liberalism and looking forward to critical transformative education for equality.
