Care and Exclusion in the Era of Neoliberalism

This chapter lays the groundwork for understanding some of the challenges that lie ahead in fostering a more equitable and inclusive educational system that prioritises the needs of all students. Drawing on the data collected through an ethnographic case study of school disengagement among a group of marginalised students in a government secondary school in Victoria, Australia, I introduce the book’s focus on the notion of care within the evolving landscape of neoliberal reforms that have impacted the experiences of students, teachers, and school leaders in many parts of the world. Against this backdrop, the chapter highlights the close nexus of care, education, and exclusion. This establishes a critical lens through which to explore the challenges faced by marginalised students in the current educational frameworks that prioritise performativity and measurable learning outcomes.