United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4.1 is a global commitment to, “ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes.” The key word here is “free” — not “low fee.” On the occasion of global education business Pearson’s Annual General Meeting, in London today, it’s important to note that it, Pearson, a founding partner of the Sustainable Development Goals, claims to support Goal Four while, on the ground, it supports the introduction and expansion of so-called low-fee private schools.

Low-fee schooling is privately-provided education run by a range of actors, from small entrepreneurs to large multinational education corporations like Bridge International Academies, and other education profiteers that promise to help the poor but do the opposite. Many of these schools are for-profit operations. In addition to charging fees, they may also receive funding from multi-national education businesses, philanthropy, government funding/concessions and international development aid.