Analyzing and Criticizing Foundations of Educational Liberalism and Educational Neoliberalism: A New Conceptualization

The purpose of study was to analyze and critique the principles of educational liberalism and educational neoliberalism in order to present a new concept (synthesis). The research method was comparatively qualitative and methods of data collection and analysis were documentary and conceptual analysis respectively. The first findings focus on critique of educational liberalism and include issues such as mere attention to elitism, lack of attention to the needs and interests of learners, training entrepreneurs, and developing skills for learners. Other finding of study is the critique of educational neoliberalism due to monopolistic individualism, preference for capitalist ethics, and commercialization of education. Re-conceptualizing (Synthesis) of educational foundations of these two philosophical schools led to the presentation of combined principles, such as internal-external freedom, human-economic wisdom, excellence-centered welfare – axis life, theoretical-practical sciences, knowledge-oriented /professional-oriented education, value-driven life - centered training and public-elite education.