The digital transformation, green transition, rising inequality, refugee crises and a host of other issues are having a major impact on societies around the world. That impact is being felt in schools, where the variety of backgrounds and cultures present in classrooms is expanding.
This increase in diversity has many implications. And it is why it is more important than ever for policymakers and teachers to respond.
Improving equity and inclusion in education is vital to ensuring students have a fair and equal chance of succeeding in later life. This does not only relate to ethnicity, Indigenous or immigrant background. It also includes students with special education needs, of different sexual orientation, gender identity and much more.
That diversity creates a diverse set of challenges. At the moment, far too many students fall behind their peers in terms of academic performance, well-being outcomes and future job opportunities. But by emphasising equitable and inclusive education, we can help education systems and teachers focus on the needs of each individual student.
