The analytical report Socio-Economic Status and Education – Estonian case, outlined within the frame of the BRAVEdu project, is now available.

The overall objective of BRAVEdu proposal is to strengthen the capacity of schools to support disadvantage learners from low socio-economic status (SES) in achieving better learning outcomes, through exploring and analysing policies and practices implemented in Estonia that enabled the educational system to reduce severely the effect of low SES on student achievement and drawing lessons from it.

The report assembles the information gathered through a policy questionnaire and a study visit in six key messages:

• Take the autonomy you have and use it responsibly
• Shared leadership is an important factor in creating an inclusive school environment
• Strive for cooperative and supportive relationships and collaborative problem solving among all stakeholders connected to school and a favourable and positive school climate
• Use students as experts, especially in terms of meaningful student involvement in school governance
• Use extracurricular activities for enhancing creativity and students’ potential
• Screen students’ and teachers’ individual needs and interests at various points and levels in order to best support their potential

The report also provides an overarching key consideration: universal policies and practices should be implemented in order to successfully tackle poverty in education and thus ensure greater equity in education.

The full report