Free trade deal opens door to privatised education
The European Union’s intention to include education services in a free trade deal being negotiated with the United States is being heavily criticised by Europe’s education sector, amid fears that it will pave the way to privatisation.
The European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE), Education International’s (EI) European Region, says that the EU’s initial offer on services and investment in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) that has been leaked to the press makes extensive offers in privately-funded education services that could lead to an influx of for-profit providers.
“With some minor exceptions, the EU is essentially opening the door wide open to for-profit American companies to provide education from primary school all the way to university,” stressed ETUCE European director Martin Rømerin a statement released on 16 June. “And the rules of the TTIP will make it very difficult for Member States to effectively regulate these companies.”
Private US education providers to access market in EU Member States
With the EU’s proposed offers on education services on the TTIP, private American education providers would have guaranteed market access into most Member States. Attempts to regulate the number of providers allowed entry into a market and rules developed to enhance stricter quality standards and accreditation procedures could be deemed to be in violation of the agreement.
“Furthermore, the EU’s wide-ranging offer on education services is not limited to the TTIP negotiations,” Rømer explained. “It equally applies to the Trade in Services Agreement that is being negotiated with a larger group of countries.”
TIPP leads to serious risks for education
The ETUCE has from the outset of negotiations raised concerns about the serious risks for educational policy, for educational institutions, and for teachers and students if education services are included in TTIP.
“We will continue to step up our lobbying efforts ahead of the next round of talks and make it clear that is unacceptable to include education and other public services in a commercial trade agreement,” Rømer said.
The next round of TTIP negotiations will take place on 14-18 July 2014.
You can read the ETUCE statement on TTIP here
