Achieving Equality in Practice: Some Challenges for Policy-Maker

This seminar was given on some challenges for policy-makers who are concerned about promoting equality in and through education. In thinking about different equality goals in relation to education we must consider not only how equality might be achieved inside schools and other educational institutions but also how educational institutions might contribute to equality in the wider society. In particular we need to ask three key questions:  how far do education systems help to provide equal access to valuable economic opportunities; how far do education systems promote the knowledge citizens need if we are to create a more culturally just society; how far do education systems help students and teachers develop a desire for and the skills of active political citizenship.