Friday, April 22, 2016

Making Of Better Future: Initiative To Reduce Literacy Gap Among Rich And Poor Students


Education the is the most important component of human life. It's so because knowledge has the power to shape the human life and socio-economy of a nation. But is education received by all? Does all have the same level of access to quality education? We may not have the desired the answer. There is a wide gap between rich and poor. Children of poverty affected families may opt out from learning due to financial contingencies. Besides, lack of educational support, motivation and inadequate school facilities and infrastructure can also disengage students from learning. To make sure that children remain in the school and complete their education, policy makers and other stakeholders of education have to collaborate.

Image source : bit.ly/1SxZKDa
In England, to end the divide in terms of prospects and accomplishment between rich and poor children, a group of education organisations called Fair Education Alliance (FEA) has decided to improve the situation and has fixed certain objectives. The FEA has published its goals which it want to achieve by 2022. Read on.

The Goal

We cannot ignore the fact the compare the earlier situation, much has been done in recent past. Now let's go through the targets that FEA has set to achieve by 2022.
  • Narrowing the gap of education and numeracy accomplishment in the primary schools and at General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE). 
  • To make sure that important aspects like balanced mental health and character of the young are developed. 
  • To narrow the literacy and training gap post GCSE so that of the youths can continue learning further. 
  • Narrowing the divide amid rich and poor students graduating from university.

Measures To Close The Gap

To achieve the goal the group of education organisations (FEA) has decided to undertake some measures that will help them to work towards the attainment of the purpose. Let's know the measures that FEA has decided to undertake:
  • More funding for education during the early years
  • Making sure that schools having top level of teaching and leadership
  • Better guidance for career for all the students
  • Additional assistance for the teachers, like mortgage deposit plan for the school staffs whose performance is good.
  • Motivating and evaluating enhancement of character, mental health and welfare in the schools.

According to Sir Richard Lambert, Chairman, FEA, “On the current trajectory, the targets that we have set for reducing inequality in the school and higher education system by 2022 will not be achieved. That would leave another generation of young people condemned to second-class schooling through no fault of their own. So we have to redouble our efforts.”

Hiring Teachers

According to the interim general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders Malcolm Trobe, “ The FEA's suggestion of a mortgage deposit scheme as an incentive to attract teachers to an area is an innovative approach which we welcome. He said, “Schools across the country are experiencing significant difficulties in recruiting teachers, and this is particularly acute in the most challenging areas. More must be done to attract people into teaching in general and in particular into these areas.”

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A spokesman for the Department for Education told that “All of our reforms are underpinned by a total commitment to fairness and social justice. Thanks to our reforms there are now 1.4 million more pupils being taught in good or outstanding schools compared to 2010, and the attainment gap is narrower than ever. We have also introduced new, rigorous GCSEs so more pupils have access to the world-class education they deserve.”

Effort Matters

Things which needs improvement can be enhanced through proper implementation of the programme. But at least we need the will to make things right. I'm sure the mission of FEA will definitely improve things. Besides, this programme will guide others to take up the similar mission to reduce the education gap. There are are many countries where the situation is even more worrisome. Those countries should adopt the similar initiative to close the inequality of education and achievement. 
What do you think? Feel free to share your thoughts and ideas with us by commenting below.
Article source : bbc.in/1qHKSco