Globalising the Universal: Equity, Policy and Planning

‚Universal’ provision has been nation-based, parochial, and abused for nationalistic purposes. This chapter critically assesses the ‚universal’ ideology and related human rights codes, and identifies emergent precepts for equity, policy and planning in a globalising world:Global context entails ‚glocal subsidiarity’ within nation-based administration, but greater international influence through service provision, service users and regulation, based on educational best value. Regional provision will increase, and rolling equity should ensure fairness across generations and borders. Willing attendance at school should become an indicator of school effectiveness. An international right to education entails states funding their citizens in other countries, and increased student mobility requires an ethics of international study. The notional universal family provides a better locus of education planning than the state or parental choice. The concept of human/global security links educational and international relations interests including the need to ‚disarm history’, precludes unreliable global information, and questions coercive inter-state intervention.