The access to the quality of education depends a lot on the socioeconomic status (SES) of the student. The neighborhood where families with higher SES live has better funded schools, better trained teachers and rich learning environments. Early academic support that results in a strong skill foundation among students is a result of these advantages. They contribute greatly to the future success of the student in academics.
There are considerable barriers to academic achievement which low SES students face. Often they are under resourced schools, overcrowded classrooms and outdated materials because of the limited financial resources. While these schools may have difficulty recruiting and retaining well experienced educators, resulting in inconsistent teaching quality and little student involvement in classroom activities.
Socioeconomic conditions also affect parental involvement. The results also show that higher SES families will have more time and information to support learning in their children's home. But they can have tutoring, extracurricular activities and technology to make learning better. On the other hand, lower SES parents may work two or more jobs and do not have as much educational background to help their children in achieving academic development.
Socioeconomic disadvantage, while certainly tied to a broad array of health impacts, should not be forgotten as merely shaping our social settings – but also having a real psychological impact. Stress, food insecurity and unstable housing often plague students from low income families which can take its toll on concentration, attendance and motivation. Taken individually, these factors would not prevent academic excellence, but in combination they diminish the likelihood of academic success, even for students destined to excel academically.
Interventions that can bridge the gap include equitable funding and early childhood education programs as well as community support systems. Leveling the academic playing field and moving the dial on social mobility, for the long term, means making sure all students have access to high quality resources and opportunities.
Conclusion
Finally, socioeconomic status has a major and generalised effect on educational access and educational achievement. This disparity is not an educational policy issue. It’s a social imperative. We have the capacity to empower each and every student to reach their greatest potential regardless of who they are — through investment in inclusive, equitable educational systems.
