Transform.Ed Briefing #37
Inside the Briefing: Trends in access to education, transformative discovery of a teacher and the rising of nine girls on their journey to education - equity from theory to praxis
Equitable, quality education is at the core of sustainable development. As the world reflects on its journey to the halfway mark of the 2030 Agenda, we realize there is as much to do as to rejoice.
According to the Global Education Monitoring Report 2023, we may have seen considerable success in terms of gender parity in education, but some girls and women are still trapped in pockets of disadvantage due to location and poverty. For example, in rural North Macedonia, for every 100 boys who complete upper secondary education, there are only 87 girls who do so. In addition, children with at least one sensory, physical or intellectual difficulty were 7 percentage points less likely than the average child to complete primary school; the gap was 10 percentage points in Zimbabwe and 14 points in Iraq.
Apart from gender, economic status, location, and disabilities, parental education makes for another critical factor in improving or limiting access to education. It has been found that completing a level of education that one's parents never attended is a formidable challenge, whether for children of parents with no literacy in low-income countries or first-in-their-family university students in high-income countries.
Last week, we asked our readers about the biggest barrier they have encountered in ensuring equitable access to education. 50 percent of our respondents identified socio-economic disparities as the major hurdle, while the remaining half cited geographical and accessibility issues as the principal challenge.
Education, as an undeniable fundamental human right and a great enabler, is a bridge to prosperous lives and inclusive communities. However, amid such inequities, how do you think we can help bridge the gap in education itself? With the world going online, how do you think we can adopt technology more inclusively? How can we ensure no learner is deprived of such access?
Share your thoughts and experiences with your global peers in the comments below, or join the conversation on the Global Citizenship Foundation’s Educational Leadership Community, exclusively dedicated to educators worldwide. If you haven’t signed up yet, please get in touch with us here.
With this carefully-curated edition of Transform.Ed Briefing, you can explore featured articles, stay informed about latest education policies, participate in our weekly poll, discover global events, indulge in a recommended movie, enhance your skills with professional development opportunities, enrich your knowledge with our book recommendations and stay on top of finding exciting job opportunities!
As a first-generation learner and educator, I understand the value of inspiring educators in the lives of learners; the most inspiring educators I've encountered in life are those who never stop learning. Together, let's embark on this incredible journey of learning and transforming education for human and planetary flourishing! Subscribe to Transform.Ed and be at the forefront of shaping the many futures of education!
In service of education and visionary education leaders,
— Aaryan Salman
Director-General
Global Citizenship Foundation
Shaping Intentional Gender Diversity and Inclusion Practices in Education
By Dr. Chandrika Devarakonda | .ed Magazine
Six Ways to Build More Equitable Learning Environments
By Nancy Duchesneau | Greater Good Science Center Magazine
Tools for Education Policy: Education Equity Dashboard
By OECD
Sep 22: Expanding Teacher Impact: Scaling Personalized Learning across Districts
(Free Entry) This is an Online Event hosted by Edweek
Sept 23: Classroom Management
(Free Entry) This is an Online Event hosted by Aga Khan University
Sep 27: From Policy to Practice: Preventing and Addressing Bullying and Discriminatory Harassment
(Free Entry) This is an Online Event hosted by Western Educational Equity Assistance Center (WEEAC)
Sep 27-28: Building Bridges to Inclusive Learning - Strategies and Best Practices for Education Leaders
(Free Entry) This is an Online Event hosted by the Global Citizenship Foundation
This film follows 9 girls from Haiti, Nepal, Ethiopia, India, Egypt, Peru, Cambodia, Sierra Leone, and Afghanistan on their journey to education.
SDG Academy: Equity and Inclusion in Education
By SDG Academy (via edX)
We Got This: Equity, Access, and the Quest to Be Who Our Students Need Us to Be
By Cornelius Minor
🇯🇴 Education Project Manager Syria Response Office, Norwegian Refugee Council, Ammam (Deadline: 21 Sep 2023)
🇦🇺 Junior Years Teachers, Prep to Year 5, Trinity Lutheran College, Gold Coast (Deadline: 25 Sep 2023)
🇲🇼 Monitoring, Evaluation, & Learning Specialist, Lilongwe/Blantyre/Zomba/Mzuzu (Deadline: 25 Sep 2023)
🇧🇹 Education Specialist, UNICEF, Bhutan (Deadline: 29 Sep 2023)
🇹🇿 Chemistry Teacher, St. Constantine's International School, Arusha (Deadline: 07 Oct 2023)
🇹🇭 Early Years Teachers, British International School, Bangkok (Deadline: 07 Oct 2023)
🇧🇩 National Program Officer for Education - Health and Wellbeing, UNESCO, Dhaka (Deadline: 10 Oct 2023)
🇫🇷 Senior Policy Analyst – Policy Reform Analysis and Implementation, Directorate for Education and Skills, OECD, Paris (Deadline: 17 Oct 2023)
🇦🇺 Linguistic Lecturer, Australian National University, Canberra (Deadline: 18 Oct 2023)
🇯🇴 Inclusive Education Expert, International Research & Exchanges Board, Amman (Deadline: 31 Dec 2023)
🇮🇳 Program Associate, Literacy, Room to Read, Uttarakhand (Deadline: Open Until Filled)
🇺🇸 Senior Researcher, School and District Leadership, American Institutes for Research, US (Deadline: Open Until Filled)
Disclaimer: The Global Citizenship Foundation does not endorse or assume responsibility for the content, products, services, policies, or practices of external links, providers, or any third-party materials referenced in this newsletter. Please use your discretion when accessing external links or resources.
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Thank you for being a part of our community, and we hope you enjoy this issue!
The Global Citizenship Foundation is a leading specialist international organization based in South Asia (NCR Delhi, India) and the European Union (Tallinn, Estonia). Its principal mandate is to realize the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 4 and Target 4.7 (Education for Global Citizenship and Sustainable Development). Since 2016, the GCF has impacted education in 70+ countries, striving to transform education for human and planetary flourishing.
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Greetings! This was a great read - thank you!
As a first-generation learner and educator, I am deeply passionate about ensuring that all learners have access to equitable, quality education. I appreciate your commitment to this important cause!
The newsletter highlights several key challenges to ensuring equitable access to education.
I believe that technology can play a vital role in addressing these challenges. For example, online learning platforms can provide learners with access to high-quality educational resources regardless of their location or socioeconomic status. Additionally, technology can be used to develop innovative solutions to accessibility challenges, such as assistive technologies for learners with disabilities.
However, it is important to note that technology is not a silver bullet. In order to truly ensure equitable access to education, we need to address the root causes of educational inequity, such as poverty and discrimination. We also need to ensure that all learners have access to the necessary digital infrastructure and devices.
By the way - I am particularly inspired by the story of the nine girls featured in the film Girl Rising. These girls overcame incredible obstacles to pursue their education, and their stories serve as a powerful reminder of the transformative power of education. Thanks again for all the helpful and inspiring content!
Naomi