Mainstream WeeklyKeywords: Neoliberalism, Education, Privatisation, Inequality, Public Schools, and Social Justice
Introduction
Education in India has long been hailed as the most powerful tool for social mobility, particularly for the poor, Dalits, Adivasis, and other marginalised communities. Yet, the neoliberal turn of the Indian economy since the 1990s has fundamentally reshaped classrooms, altering access and redefining education. Once a public good, education is increasingly treated as a commodity accessible primarily to those who can pay. This shift has created a system where privilege buys quality learning while marginalised groups remain locked out of opportunities.
The roots of neoliberalism lie in the evolution of classical liberal thought, which argued for minimal state interference and a self-regulating market. However, thinkers like John Maynard Keynes, Milton Friedman, and Friedrich Hayek pointed to the inherent instability of markets, calling for state intervention to stabilise economies.
Neoliberalism thus represents a paradoxical ideology: while advocating free markets, it also relies on the active role of the state to create conditions conducive to capital accumulation. David Harvey describes this as