According to international research led by the University of Adelaide, overall population levels of academic achievement could be increased by taking steps from an early age to improve childhood education skills by as much as 5 percent, and reduce socioeconomic inequality in education by 15 percent
Researchers from the University of Adelaide’s School of Population Health and colleagues at the University of Bristol in the UK made this finding in the journal Child Development. The researchers modeled the possible outcomes of interventions for improving academic skills in children up to school age.
Researchers from the University of Adelaide’s School of Population Health and colleagues at the University of Bristol in the UK made this finding in the journal Child Development. The researchers modeled the possible outcomes of interventions for improving academic skills in children up to school age.
It was remarked by lead author Dr Catherine Chittleborough from the University of Adelaide that socioeconomic disadvantage is a known risk factor for education and related outcomes.
“Childhood socioeconomic disadvantage is associated with reduced ability to benefit from schooling, poorer educational outcomes, a lower likelihood of continuing to tertiary education, and less job success. A poor education is associated with increased welfare dependence and lower skilled jobs with lower pay, helping to continue the cycle of disadvantage,” Dr Chittleborough says.
“We’ve known for some time that intervening before the age of five can improve skills necessary for educational success, but the effect of these interventions on socioeconomic inequalities has remained unknown,” she says.
Dr Chittleborough says pre-school education is extremely important to set children on the right path. “By providing the appropriate educational support, we could make a difference to a lot of children’s lives,” she says.
“Childhood socioeconomic disadvantage is associated with reduced ability to benefit from schooling, poorer educational outcomes, a lower likelihood of continuing to tertiary education, and less job success. A poor education is associated with increased welfare dependence and lower skilled jobs with lower pay, helping to continue the cycle of disadvantage,” Dr Chittleborough says.
“We’ve known for some time that intervening before the age of five can improve skills necessary for educational success, but the effect of these interventions on socioeconomic inequalities has remained unknown,” she says.
Dr Chittleborough says pre-school education is extremely important to set children on the right path. “By providing the appropriate educational support, we could make a difference to a lot of children’s lives,” she says.
Tags: child development, education skills, tertiary education