EEA1

1st EEA Meeting “The Equitable Education Association”

A Kick-off Meeting on Equitable Education

18–19 February 2020 | Bangkok, Thailand

UNESCO Bangkok and the Equitable Education Fund (EEF) convened international partners to explore collaboration in advancing equity in education systems.

🔵 Download Full Meeting Summary (PDF)

1️⃣ Meeting Purpose

The meeting aimed to:

  • Share national policies and practices addressing educational inequality

  • Identify common challenges in equity-focused education reform

  • Explore collaboration mechanisms to establish the Equitable Education Association (EEA)

Participating countries included Finland, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Thailand, and the United States.

2️⃣ Key Insights from the Meeting

2.1) Prioritizing the Foundations

Participants emphasized that equity means more than academic performance.

Core principles discussed:

  • Education as a tool to reduce social inequality

  • Importance of psychological well-being

  • Individualized student support

  • Holistic and inclusive school environments

Countries such as Finland and Japan highlighted systems focused on equity over competition.

 

2.2) System Creation Through Collaborative Leadership

Equity challenges cannot be solved by funding alone.

Key messages:

  • Strong cross-sector leadership is essential

  • Government, schools, families, and communities must work together

  • Shared vision and trust are critical for sustainable reform

  • Leadership must be responsive and contextual

 

2.3) Community-Based Partnerships

Effective equity reform requires local collaboration.

Examples discussed included:

  • Partnerships between schools and community agencies

  • Integration of health and social services

  • Collaboration between urban and rural schools

  • Clear coordination between central and local authorities

 

2.4) Measuring Impact

Measuring equity is complex but essential.

Participants discussed:

  • Developing meaningful indicators

  • Using data to identify inequality gaps

  • Tracking both between-group and within-group disparities

  • Long-term evaluation approaches

3️⃣ Emerging Direction for the EEA

During discussions on the draft Terms of Reference, participants suggested:

  • Expanding beyond an academic platform

  • Building a community of practitioners

  • Clarifying geographical focus

  • Defining clear actions aligned with the vision

  • Identifying benefits for member organizations

The Association is envisioned as a collaborative platform for action-oriented engagement.

4️⃣ What’s Next?

Following the kick-off meeting:

  • Further discussions on collaboration structure

  • Exploration of joint initiatives

  • Continued cross-country dialogue