You may have noticed that the brochures of many modern-day education providers emphasize their “diversity focus”. You can sense it in the imagery and the tone. But unfortunately, it doesn’t always translate into real-life action.
A recent
Center for American Progress survey found that LGBTQI+ people continue to experience discrimination in school settings. The bias is worse for these people if they have disabilities or are of color. Likewise, a Gallup and Lumina Foundation report found that 21 percent of Black students enrolled in post-secondary institutions felt discrimination.
Clearly, the gap between claiming to be an equitable and inclusive campus and actually being one is wider than we may think. And bridging this gap is an integral part of an educational leader’s role, especially in a world already buckling under divisiveness.
Here are three ideas for education leaders to work toward creating truly inclusive learning environments.
1. Strengthen Leadership Skills to Implement Equity Policies
In the new era, restricting ideas to talks and plans rarely yields actual results. Educational leaders need to take ideas beyond the drawing board by converting them into policies and supervising their real-lfie implementation.
As far as DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) work is concerned, the US school system is in a volatile phase. The Trump administration, early on, threatened to cut funding to institutions that do not cease programming and initiatives aimed at promoting DEI. It also affects local schools that are striving to create an inclusive environment for transgender youth by streamlining practices for bathroom use or sport selection.
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However, many educational leaders have stepped forward to state that they won’t comply with this guidance. Their argument is that DEI policies are ideologically necessary to enable better learning outcomes for all students.
In these transitory times, educational leaders need to take a stand and reassess their commitment to creating a student-centered campus. A deeper academic understanding of driving change can help to champion meaningful progress.
For example, pursuing an
EdD in higher education programs online can show how to design inclusive programs. Online delivery facilitates asynchronous classes and more flexibility to balance work and further learning.
According to the American International College, a comprehensive understanding of educational leadership can help those seeking to take on roles of program directors and deans. So building leadership skills is needed to make a positive impact on inclusivity in these polarized times.
2. Prioritize Digital Learning to Manage Resource Scarcities
It might have taken a devastating pandemic to awaken the world to the capabilities of online education. But now that we know how much it can achieve, there’s no looking back. Besides the convenience and logistical benefits of online learning, another real bonus is its ability to reach underserved and low-resource communities.
UNESCO has highlighted how digital learning can bring equity in the education system around the world. It showcased the heartwarming example of Namibia, where some primary school teachers now use a single computer and one projector to make their lessons more engaging. They create digital content, showing the students videos and pictures on PowerPoint presentations. Needless to say, the young learners enjoy their lessons much more . and retain the knowledge!
Educational leaders can provide online learning for far-flung communities or regions that lack adequate infrastructure. The market is supportive, with Statista quoting global online education revenue of over US$200 billion. And the US is expected to be the top contributor to this.
Digital learning can also provide benefits to students with disabilities, who have traditionally faced hurdles in conventional school systems. A Frontiers in Education report showed that interactive applications and augmented reality can deliver equitable learning for students with disabilities. And predictably, these tools can improve collaboration and social integration. Students are then equipped to grow their potential and not feel restricted because of difficulties in reading, writing, or mobility.
This means that educational leaders can smooth the integration of digital learning tools and AI-driven technologies to build a student-centered campus.
Of course, it’s essential to make informed choices about the technologies adopted. Some AI models and tools have been reported to produce biased results. For example, research suggests that popular tools like ChatGPT showed disparities for “Black-sounding” names. Which isn’t good news…
Again, the ability to be discerning and vigilant will be a top priority for educational leaders. Not every tool will be worth adopting for its fancy bells and whistles; its commitment to achieving inclusivity must be sincere.
3. Expand the Circle of Care to Parents and Caregivers
Since education involves huge responsibility, it’s also necessary to consider expanding the number of people involved. Don’t forget that the circle of care for learners constitutes not only teachers but also parents or other family members.
The
Southern Poverty Law Center notes how some groups have been trying to undermine inclusivity efforts by creating a division between parents and teachers. They claim that teachers are indoctrinating their children. The ultimate objective may be to further a political agenda and deepen control and censorship in public education. Some researchers have also noted that parents who have biased beliefs about sexual diversity could perpetuate these ideas among children. It could undo the results of a school’s program that tries to promote equity.
This challenge can be addressed by organizing awareness programs and peer sessions for both parents and teachers. Involving parents in planning educational initiatives will help them develop a feeling of belonging. This will enable them to understand why all students need it, irrespective of their background.
It will also be essential to create reliable and accessible communication channels that parents and caregivers can use to interact with the school. Transparent communication can be much more effective at creating an inclusive campus than informal, cliquey WhatsApp groups.
Conclusion
Educational leadership is in demand and also socially necessary in today’s world. Everything, from socio-political turbulence to the overwhelming AI revolution, is complicating the delivery of equitable learning. Government policies and industry opinions don’t always (if ever) work in tandem with what is intrinsically vital for today’s students.
It’s up to focused and committed leaders to bring about transformational change that transcends petty divisions and makes education accessible to all. Isn’t that a laudable goal?
