The Latin American and African Network of Researchers in Privatization of Education (ReLAAPPe) is formed through the voluntary action of researchers from Latin America and Africa. The purpose of ReLAAPPe is to gather reflections and promote dialogues about the processes and effects of the privatization of education. Having as a principle education as a fundamental human right, this association supports the strengthening of public systems as a premise for implementation of educational improvement. This initiative aims to advance the construction of knowledge on education and contribute to the materialization of the right for education.
ReLAAPPe is an initiative of the Group on Studies and Research in Educational Policy (GREPPE). It is composed of founding board members from Latin America, Africa, and other regions that study and publish on the subject of the privatization of education.
Testimonials from affiliated researchers about the creation of ReLAAPPe:
“At this moment, privatization processes are unfolding similarly around the world. It isimperative to unite initiatives and advocates who recognize education as a public good,
an essential right for everyone, and a duty of the state. First, the collaboration is vital for sharing experiences of resistance, learning from each other, conducting comparative
studies, and formulating common strategies. The establishment of ReLAAPPe is a promising step in this direction. The demand for international collaboration is accelerating, and we must seize the opportunity for meaningful exchanges with our colleagues in Africa. There is a wealth of knowledge to gain, as many successful initiatives implemented globally were first tested in Africa.”
Romualdo Oliveira, University of São Paulo (USP) | Brazil
“The establishment of ReLAAPPe is crucial for incorporating diverse voices into the international dialogue in this field and for fostering synergies and mechanisms that enable the exchange of experiences between researchers from both continents. This initiative is particularly vital at a time when we are seeing an increasing involvement of intermediaries in the relationships between the public and private sectors in education. This includes actors tied to development cooperation flows, such as the Global Partnership for Education, a multilateral fund that has recently introduced a private sector strategy. This strategy allows funding for countries in the Global South to be directed towards profit-driven operators. By facilitating dialogue between Latin America and Africa, we can accelerate the sharing of experiences, knowledge, innovations, and best practices among researchers. This collaborative effort adds essential voices and contexts to the international discussion, grounded in a rich ecology of knowledge.”
Rui da Silva, University of Porto | Portugal
“The establishment of this network is crucial for enhancing research conducted in various countries. It specifically aims to facilitate the analysis of education privatization policies within the diverse contexts of peripheral capitalist nations, where the universal right to free, quality public education has not yet been realized. The Network will foster collaboration among researchers through joint studies on the ongoing privatization and the transformation of education into a profitable commodity driven by business groups and global corporations operating in different countries. Moreover, the sharing and dissemination of research conducted by scholars from Latin America and Africa can significantly contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge. It can also create opportunities for comparative studies to explore how the processes of education privatization infringe upon the fundamental right to education for impoverished populations in these countries. Additionally, it could propose strategies to overcome this process, which contributes to maintaining these countries in inhumane conditions.”
Vera Lúcia Jacob Chaves, Federal University of Pará (UFPA) | Brazil
“I believe that ReLAAPPe has emerged from over a decade of collaborative work experiences by researchers committed to collective studies. Their mission was to thoroughly analyse the specific characteristics of their subject matter within local contexts across various regions of Brazil, while also investigating the crucial role of public-private relationships in driving profound societal changes. We actively engaged in discussions on empirical data, methodology, context, and concepts, leading local groups to expand and initiate their own studies. Thus, the network was born. As the network developed, so did the necessity for dialogue with other researchers, both within Brazil and on an international scale, to exchange knowledge, tools, methodologies, and theoretical frameworks. This collaboration is essential for understanding the unique aspects of different countries while also identifying the commonalities that define this particular phase of capitalism. The urgency for collaboration has never been greater, especially in these challenging times for Brazilian democracy and democracy worldwide. Together, we are indeed stronger. Long live ReLAAPPe! Also, the dialogue between Latin America and Africa is pivotal for advancing knowledge and debate on the privatization of education. It facilitates invaluable theoretical exchanges among researchers and fosters discussions on the tools and concepts necessary to critically analyse the differences and similarities between contexts shaped by distinct histories and power dynamics. Both regions face the daunting challenges of a global landscape marked by a crisis of capitalism and the reduction of universal social rights materialized in public policies."
Vera Peroni, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) | Brazil
"Even with the differences between the continents, the strong presence of private education stems from the weak role of the State and the widespread belief that private education is synonymous with quality. Understanding the privatization of education is crucial because it highlights issues such as the neglect of rights, the persistence of inequalities, the way the State operates, and, ultimately, it provides insights for designing better public policies."
Ricardo Cuenca, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH) | Peru
"These dialogues between Latin America and Africa have the potential to greatly enrich the discussions and disputes surrounding public education. They contribute not only to
developing diverse internal agendas within our countries but also to shaping effective responses to the global education goals that are being placed upon national governments."
Isaac Paxe, National Institute for the Training of Education Leaders (INFQE) | Angola