Inspiration to create a cornerstone of inclusive societies
Educational opportunity and success for young people is a cornerstone of inclusive societies.
Learners from vulnerable backgrounds face disproportionate barriers to appropriate and relevant education pathways, hindering their ability to achieve their full potential.
The early and adolescent years represent a pivotal developmental window that shapes life trajectories. This period encompasses critical neurological, social, and personal growth that lay the foundation for later life outcomes. Access to quality education during this formative stage provides opportunity to develop important skills necessary for navigating an increasingly complex world. Equally vital are the relationships young people forge during these years – with peers who provide validation and feelings of belonging, with teachers who recognize and encouragepotential, and with caring adults who model positive behaviors. These connections provide both
emotional scaffolding and social capital that research consistently links to resilience and achievement.
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS FOR TRANSFORMING EDUCATIONAL PATHWAYS
The SCIREARLY project identified transformative drivers in the educational life paths of youth belonging to vulnerable populations in eight countries. The project sought to identify and better understand the elements that may reduce and prevent early school leaving and underachievement among these groups.
By examining the success stories of those who have overcome significant challenges, we gained valuable insights into factors that enable resilience and achievement. This strengths-based approach shifts the focus from deficits to supportive elements that can be formalised, enhanced, and systematised through policy and practice.
Findings were then validated through workshops with diverse stakeholders – participants themselves, students, teachers, school leaders, parents, and community representatives – to co-design recommendations for policy and practice.
Read the full recommendations here:
Policy recommendations
Create school cultures where every student feels seen, valued, and supported through meaningful relationships with educators and peers.
Develop coherent frameworks that ensure continuity of support as students move between educational levels and institutions.
Increase resources for programmes that build meaningful partnerships between families, foster homes, schools, and community services.
Develop school-wide strategies that emphasize the importance of attendance and engagement while responding compassionately to barriers or specific situations students face.
Design physical environments and structured opportunities that enable positive peer relationships and a sense of belonging.
Ensure curriculum, staffing, and school environments reflect and affirm the diverse identities of all students, particularly those from cultural minorities.
Develop, support, and promote multiple pathways to success that are equally valued and visible.
Significantly increase access to school-based mental health services and emotional support for students and staff.
Children and young people are the experts
During the SCIREARLY research we talked to young people, teachers, parents and policy makers.
They are the experts in their own realities. Here are some of the things they had to say about creating the best opportunities for children and young people to thrive and succeed in their educational journey:
Read in the gallery below or download the document