The marketisation of education in Singapore: Policies and implications

Abstract

This article focuses on the marketisation of education in Singapore since the mid-1980s. It describes and analyses several policies and trends. These include the encouragement of greater school autonomy, the fostering of competition among schools, an increased private involvement in educational provision, the growth in entrepreneurial activities among schools and a greater involvement of schools in marketing activities. In addition, the article argues that the Singapore case does not actually involve a free market, but rather a controlled, or quasi-market. The promotion of such a quasi-market threatens to exacerbate not only the disparities between schools in terms of educational outcomes but also social inequalities. At the same time, it is not entirely clear whether the desired policy goals will be successfully attained. The discussion adds to the existing literature on the marketisation of education and its accompanying policy implications.