THERE can be no denying the government has not stopped hammering away at its education theme since taking office with a pledge to improve it. But, surely, its latest idea is the most radical yet - that of bringing in private firms to sort out failing schools.

For they are being asked to bid to run some of the experimental new education action zones being set up in areas where schools are performing badly. And, we are told, many famous-name companies are showing interest.

But hackles are already up in the local education authorities and teaching unions - with concern over everything from firms' lack of expertise in education, eventual privatisation of schools, the undermining of local democracy and job security.

Yet, though it remains uncertain how firms may profit from their involvement even though they will have the right to, some positive benefits of bringing the efficiency of private sector business into education do seem apparent already. There is that of cutting bureaucracy. How often do we hear teachers complain that they spend too much time filling forms instead of actually teaching?

There is also that of bringing the power of the market to recruitment - so that the chains of national pay scales are snapped and firms allowed to attract better teachers to poor schools by paying them more.

And there is the benefit of pupils approaching school-leaving age being given work experience in the firms running the education action zones.

Most of all, there is the undeniable fact that too many schools run by local authorities are not doing well enough.

And if the new broom of business can bring in a better partnership with teachers by improving their incentives and cutting red tape, things may only get better.

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