Education and Marxism

In conclusion, the Marxist analysis of the role of education, being that education is ultimately determined by the class one belongs to, with education reflecting economic success and thus reproducing class structures, has been proven by many capitalist societies across western Europe and North America. However, there is a failure to account for numerous processes and ideas that are of importance in today's society, making it appear that some theories are outdated. For example, whilst in general classes appear to be reproduced, upward mobility is evident, albeit for a minority, for example a student brought up in a working class environment obtaining a good degree (perhaps with a scholarship to aid economic difficulties of the parents) resulting in a well paid job. Second and third generation immigrants in the UK often appear to rapidly move upwards, for example their parents and grandparents entering UK in the 1950s and 60s with few economic assets, whilst many now enjoy an affluent and comfortable lifestyle due to educational achievement (or even without qualifications, having aspiration such as entrepeneurship). Overall however, the Marxist analysis provides a good fundamental sociological framework into how the education system operates in capitalist societies.…