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Strategic Interventions in Addressing Inequalities in Education - Potentials and Possibilities
Abstract Submissions Closed
RC04 Sociology of Education (host committee)
Language: English
Session Type: Oral
There is no single definition to inequalities in education whether one analyses trends and developments in advanced or developing and under-developed societies. Often, the causes can be theorised to be the same, that is, social class theory (Ball, Bernstein, Appel and Giroux). Interventions based on the deficit model of learning do not necessarily lead to the intended outcomes. Inequalities not only continue to persist but the gap between the rich and poor continue to grow with stark manifestations in the broader educational outcomes. The relentless pursuit on “solutions” is often evasive and illusive which becomes more complex in societies that cannot escape the influence of global political and economic hegemony.
In particular, this session focuses on advanced, developing and under-developed societies. This session aims to explore and generate discussions on the possibilities, potential and successes for providing strategic interventions, at critical times and during critical moments of the educational development process in conditions of huge inequalities. Such interventions would range from the broader policy issues to the micro issues such as organisational development, curriculum, pedagogy, language, culture and ethnicity. In so far as interventions are made, there is also a concomitant need to identify those empirical research methods that are most utilised, best utilised and most beneficial in providing theoretical, educational and policy directions on both a macro and micro level.