How do we Ensure Education is Inclusive and Reaches Marginalised Groups?
Growing up in 1970s and 80s Britain, son of Jamaican immigrants, all I cared about was mathematics, mathematics and mathematics. I didn’t see the need for black role models; all I cared about was numbers. Then I reached teenage years, the opportunity to enter the educational community was not the same for people of my colour. I was being directed to become a boxer not a mathematician. A generation later my son was being pushed in the direction of singing, not a career in STEM. My story is not unique and there are many other marginalised groups. Creating an education system that genuinely includes marginalised groups isn’t just a moral imperative — it’s a practical one. When people are excluded, societies lose talent, creativity, and economic potential.
So what can be done? Here are seven starters for ten:
1. Remove Barriers to Access
Many marginalised learners are excluded long before they reach a classroom.
Key Strategies:
- Eliminate financial barriers: scholarships, free school meals, subsidised transport, no-fee schooling.
- Provide flexible learning options: evening classes, community-based learning, mobile schools for nomadic groups.
- Invest in infrastructure: safe buildings, accessible facilities for disabled learners, and reliable internet in rural areas.
2. Make Learning Culturally Relevant
Education becomes inclusive when learners see themselves reflected in it.
What this looks like:
- Curriculum that includes diverse histories, languages, and perspectives.
- Teaching materials that avoid stereotypes and represent all groups.
- Community involvement in designing educational programs.
- Don’t just consider the marginalised groups at certain special events, but all year round.
3. Train and Support Teachers
Teachers are the frontline of inclusion.
Effective Approaches:
- Training in inclusive pedagogy and unconscious bias.
- Recruiting teachers from marginalised communities.
- Providing classroom assistants or specialists (e.g., sign language interpreters).
- Get teachers to be seconded in diverse areas, so they can grow to learn and appreciate different cultures.
4. Use Technology
Thoughtfully, technology can widen access — or deepen inequality if used poorly.
Inclusive Uses of Technology:
- Low-bandwidth digital learning tools for remote areas.
- Assistive technologies for learners with disabilities.
- Online platforms that allow flexible pacing and personalised learning.
- Keep Libraries open so that marginalised communities can access the digital world.
5. Strengthen Policies and Accountability
Inclusion doesn’t happen by accident; it needs structure. I have written a paper called treating EDI as a Science Problem. It introduces Chamberlain’s Law that states this “If all things are equal what numbers do we expect to see?”
On this basis, we should be able to consider things such as
- Anti-discrimination laws in education.
- Data collection on who is being left out and why.
- Funding formulas that allocate more resources to disadvantaged schools.
6. Engage Families and Communities
There are examples where marginalised groups distrust institutions for good historical reasons. These are some of the ways to build trust:
- Community-led outreach programs.
- Parent education initiatives.
- Schools are partnering with local leaders, NGOs, and cultural organisations.
7. Support Learners Beyond Academics
Barriers to education are often social, emotional, or economic. Holistic support:
- Mental health services.
- School meals and health checks.
- Safe transport and anti-bullying programs.
In conclusion, these points are not comprehensive or exhaustive. However, it is a benefit to us all when education is for all.
BY PROFESSOR NIRA CHAMBERLAIN OBE
FIMA FORS CSci PhD HonDSc DUniv 1st AtkinsRéalis Technical Fellow for Mathematical Modelling AtkinsRéalis, Six Mathematical Doctorates. Mathematics Professor. Founder of the Black Heroes of Mathematics Conference. Science Communicator
