How do Marxists generally view education?

Marxists view education primarily as a means to perpetuate class inequalities. According to Marxist theory, the education system serves the interests of the ruling class (the bourgeoisie) by promoting and reinforcing their values, ideologies, and power structures. This perspective suggests that education does not equip individuals with equal opportunities but rather socializes students into accepting the existing class hierarchies.

In this framework, schools are seen as venues where the working class (the proletariat) is prepared to accept their role in the economic system, often through the hidden curriculum, which teaches compliance, obedience, and the acceptance of authority. Additionally, educational success is often linked to socio-economic status, meaning that those from privileged backgrounds have more access to resources and opportunities that lead to better educational outcomes. Thus, instead of serving as a great equalizer or a facilitator of social mobility, Marxists argue that education reinforces existing inequalities and limits the potential for genuine social change.