Inclusive strategies for socioeconomic inequalities in education

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A challenge that concerns us all

According to the OECD , students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds score on average more than 100 points lower in mathematics than their more advantaged peers. Simply put, initial inequalities turn into learning inequalities.

Faced with this observation, there are two options: give up or take action. And there are well-documented and accessible solutions to reduce these gaps. They are sometimes costly, but are primarily based on pedagogical, organizational, and political choices. All share the same principle: placing the student at the center, without blaming, and giving more to those who need it most.

Understanding inequalities in order to better combat them

Educational inequalities do not arise solely in the classroom. They reflect social realities: poverty, marginalization, limited access to healthcare, culture, and digital technology.

They are reinforced when school fails to compensate for these disadvantages.

The OECD recalls a key distinction:

• Equality : offering the same thing to everyone.
• Equity : Providing everyone with what they need to succeed.

Inclusive education is thus based on the principle of “universal proportionality” : a framework designed for everyone, but reinforced where the needs are greatest.

Powerful educational levers

Certain educational practices, validated by research , prove to be particularly effective:

• Effective feedback : fast, precise and improvement-oriented feedback.
• Metacognition : learning how to learn, through reflective notebooks or thinking aloud.
• Targeted tutoring : in small groups, for a limited but intensive period, particularly in reading and mathematics.
• Educational coaching for teachers : observe, exchange, practice together to improve practices.

Beyond the Classroom: Creating the Conditions for Success

Schools cannot do everything, but they can do a lot. Some peripheral measures have proven their effectiveness:

• Universal school meals : balanced diet, reduced stigma and positive impact on attendance ( ISER report, 2024 ).
• Community schools : open structures that combine health, social services and families, thus becoming true resource centers.
• Social-emotional skills : learning to manage emotions , cooperation and perseverance, with lasting academic benefits.

Digital: a tool, not a magic wand

Without support, digital technology can widen inequalities.

Donating tablets or opening platforms is not enough. What matters:

• accessibility of connectivity,
• teacher training,
• family involvement,
• educational use (rather than passive consumption).

Family involvement: a powerful and often neglected lever

Families play a key role in academic success. But their involvement isn't limited to homework.

Studies show that simple actions – for example, sending personalized text messages about student progress ( EEF, parental engagement ) – can have a significant impact.

Translating documents, organizing friendly workshops, establishing regular and positive exchanges: all these actions build lasting trust between the school and families.

Financing Equity: A Profitable Investment

Investing more where the needs are greatest is essential.

The OECD recommends balanced funding: a student in a situation of great deprivation should benefit from more support (supervision, specialized programs, extracurricular services).

In the long term, the work of economist James Heckman demonstrates the profitability of investments in early childhood: fewer dropouts, better health, and increased professional integration.

Measure, adjust, improve

Acting for equity also requires regular monitoring:

• attendance rate,
• share of students achieving basic reading and math skills,
• school climate,
• use of support devices.

This data should be used to improve systems, not to sanction.

Conclusion: school as a tool for emancipation

Reducing socioeconomic inequality is not a utopia, but a democratic necessity. Every child must be able to flourish, regardless of their background.

This requires collective mobilization – teachers, school leaders, communities, decision-makers and families – and a shared conviction: school can transform lives .