How to Fight Vested Interests in Education

Vested interests refer to individuals or groups with a personal stake in particular outcomes, often driven by financial, political, or other motivations. We find them in all domains, and education is no exception. In education, bureaucracy, teachers' unions, and private school managements can have their own vested interests. These vested interests may hinder progress and impede necessary changes.

One powerful tool to challenge these vested interests is the strategic use of randomisation in educational assessments. By introducing randomness into the assessment process, we can create a more transparent, equitable, and accountable educational system. We suggest some ways below to combat vested interests in educational assessments:

• Random Assignment of Auditors: By randomly assigning auditors to evaluate schools and teachers, we reduce the potential for favouritism or biased evaluations, ensuring a fair assessment process.

• Random Sampling: Instead of assessing all students, random sampling can be used, providing a more accurate representation of educational quality and reducing the pressure on educators to "teach to the test."

• Randomised Content: Randomly select assessment topics and questions to ensure a broad and unbiased evaluation of students' knowledge and skills.

• Randomised Policy Impact Studies: Randomised controlled trials can assess the effectiveness of educational policies, reducing the sway of powerful lobbying groups.

Randomisation in educational assessments is, therefore, a powerful tool to challenge the status quo, promote fairness, and improve educational outcomes. By embracing this approach, we can create a more accountable and dynamic education system that benefits students, teachers, institutions, and the entire community.

Measureme®, our self-assessment and audit platform for foundational skills and knowledge, has randomisation at its core. Measureme® helps you assess your child’s educational progress by comparing its learning outcomes with those of various peer groups. In this process, Measureme® also helps you assess your education system to bring you a wealth of reliable data and insights. These data and insights lead to transparency and accountability in education, which in turn will drive continuous improvement among students, teachers, and schools.