This study provides a vision of education for the 21st century, synthesizing philosophical ideas and empirical information, and showing how the role of the state should be minimized. The author adopts the viewpoint of a sceptical jury representing both academic and public opinion. Drawing on research data on the role of private companies in the education sector in countries as diverse as Brazil, India and America, he confronts the big questions and hard challenges facing education, and shows the need for a libertarian future.