According to current trends in education, one of the six possible scenarios discussed as part of the future(s) of education project, as designed by the OECD, show schools as being frequently businesses, each competing with each other for the consumer base of students. Brought about because of general dissatisfaction on both the part of the parents and the governments, schools become one of several options in a diversified setting. Because they develop in different locale and respond to a variety of influences, they drive student to them based on their proven outcomes along a variety of markers. The models currently in place all survive and strengthen so students may be schooled some at home, some in technological or career oriented environments and some in academic settings. Equally diverse accreditation develops as well.
Life long learning becomes the norm with younger and older people alike moving fluidly in and out of semi formalized education of all sorts. International levels of accreditation or certification come into play especially in some professions such as health. Since a variety of backgrounds always exists, inequality is not addressed but rather teams compensate and encourage growth across wide varieties of backgrounds.
Technology is a tool through which imagination flourishes. Networks provide stimulation and flexibility of resources across local boundaries. Global diversification flourishes.
Teaching is no longer a distinct profession as people contract with these market driven entities for a specific time to work with a specific group towards a predetermined outcome. Shortages of opportunities may exist for areas with less financial resource.
The OECD itself says:
This scenario depicts the widespread extension of market approaches – in who provides education, how it is delivered, how choices are made and resources distributed. Governments withdraw from running schooling, pushed by dissatisfaction of “consumer.” This future might bring innovation and cynicism, and it might mean exclusion and inequality.
You can follow this link to read more about the geopolitical and attitudinal conditions that likely predict and support this scenario of greater bureaucracies for the management of schools.
