What is meant by Social Justice in Education?
Simply put, if there is educational inequality in schools it demonstrates a case of social injustice. This inequality prevails everywhere in the world, not just in England. Social injustice in education prevents bright and deserving students to reach their potential or show their abilities because the wealthy not-so-bright students take over and leave them behind using their resources. This situation is not just devastating for the individuals who fall behind but also poses a threat to a country’s economy since the talented lot is not given a chance to thrive.
So many children in UK have to leave school early because they have to start work and support their families. According to a survey, more than 70 percent of children who are eligible for a free meal in schools are unable to secure good grades in the GSCEs. Educational failure is considered one of many pathways to poverty in UK. The others include family breakdown, joblessness, drug and alcohol dependency, and debt. In order to eradicate social injustice completely from the society, there is a need to address educational failure on individual and community level.
How Can Schools Promote Social Justice?
Introducing social justice in education is not limited to building schools that offer free education to all pupils. Even if education is free of cost, how can you ensure that there is no discrimination based on colour, creed, and gender? Social justice in education is much more than that; however, schools do play a major role in promoting it.
Schools can promote social justice by giving social justice education to their teachers and changing their educational policy by practicing social justice principles. Reforms should be introduced in all schools to change the educational system on the whole. Evidence-based intervention is on the rise throughout the world especially in developing countries to break the cycle of disadvantage and promote social justice in schools.
Beliefs about Social Justice in Schools
Although most people related to academics understand and advocate the importance of social justice in education, current trends in UK suggest a wide gap exists before a status where wealthy and poor are treated alike could be attained. Today schools and their management believe in supporting the most disadvantaged of children who come to study at their institution. Moreover, they are striving to turn their attention to communities that have been left to fail for years. In fact, it is a reform that is being introduced to each and every school of UK so that there would be a consistent system of education throughout the country.
Social Justice Issues in Education
Social justice issues are handed down to people generation after generation because it is believed that if parents were unable to achieve their potential, it is very much likely that their children would not be able to do so either. Here are some of the issues that exist in the educational sector of UK:
– Low level of engagement on part of low-income parents who themselves had been unable to complete their education or shine through their academic life.
– Children who have to leave school early due to one reason or another are more likely to turn into criminals and end up in prisons.
– If there are no meaningful qualifications, there are very bleak chances of getting a decent job later on.
There is a need to address these issues by focusing on the most disadvantaged children so that they can get a better start in life than their parents. Existing schools should be encouraged to create partnerships in order to have a consistent system of education. The best of teachers should be motivated to go to the most disadvantaged of communities and work there to bring the best talent on top. For future job opportunities, a close relationship should be nurtured between teachers or heads of schools and employers.