Education as a merchandise?

From a debate article in a student paper about the Bologna process (harmonization of educational systems within Europe):

"The education is simply turning from a social right, means for liberation and self-realization, to a merchandise which should correspond to the demands of a obedient and well adjust labour for the state and the capital. This is not a conspiracy theory but an objective with which one is completlly open with: the highter education och reserach shall be used to benefit growth and thus promote Europe's position in the competition."

"At a gathering of these [parts of the process], the image of a gigant education factory emerges. In the Bologna process throughout* is prioritized above critical thinking, growth above democracy and competition above education."

"Whether this is a positive or negative development isn't written in stone, it isn't an objective fact. Just like other political standpoints it is characterized by th interests one represent, the standpoints one does and in this case also the view one has on education. If one consider people there to satisfy the companies' need, then one probably think that the Bologna process is pretty good. If one is of the opposite opinion // that the companies are there to satisfy the need of the people, then one have all reasons to behave critically to the speech of the blessed effects of the Bologna process."

Written by Olof Holmgren

(my own translation)

* genomströmning