Equipping Schools to Fight Poverty: A community hub approach

This article was originally presented at the New Zealand Post Primary Teachers’ Association Annual Conference in October 2013. It was adopted as policy by the association.

Abstract

A major challenge for education policymakers and educators globally is the strong and persistent impact of student socio-economic status (SES) on learning. This is a challenge that will not be addressed solely by school-focused reform. However, one policy initiative that could make a positive difference in this regard, and could bring other benefits to schools and communities, is equipping schools to act as hubs for a range of social and health services for their students, families, and communities. Schools as community hubs can not only act to mitigate the impact of poverty on learners, but can position schools at the centre of communities, and build community resilience and capacity.

Keywords:

• education policy
• schools
• community hubs
• social services
• health service
• secondary schools
• Post Primary Teachers’ Association

Notes

1. Progressive universalism—the state paying ‘something for everyone, but more for the poor’ (Donald Hirsch). See also Hatherley (2011) Sustainable public spending: The choice between universalism and targeting. http://www.assemblywales.org/ki-024.pdf.