DIVERSITY, CHOICE AND ETHNICITY - THE EFFECTS OF EDUCATIONAL MARKETS ON ETHNIC-MINORITIES

This article discusses some of the effects of the creation of an educa tional market, based on parental choice of school, on ethnic minority students. It notes that from the 1960s to the 1980s educational policy and practice changed slowly, to accommodate minority students more su ccessfully and principles of social justice and equity in education be gan to be regarded as important. However, the new market framework whi ch encourages competition and separation has begun to affect the educa tion of minority students in mainly negative ways. The urban location and social class position of most minority students disadvantages them in a situation of market competition, as does the effect of the devol ution of funding to schools. Minority students are less likely to be s ought after as 'desirable' commodities by schools and more likely to b e excluded. The market also encourages ethnic and racial segregation a s white parents are now able openly to choose schools with few or no m inority students, but black and Asian middle-class parents are likely to make similar 'choices'-avoiding inner-city schools.