G20 Interfaith Forum, inclusive and caring education, 2020

IF20 Education Task Force

As part of the G20 Interfaith (G20 / IF20) Education-Task-Force, the GHFP launched a research into Inclusive and Caring Education from a Faith Perspective. The research consisted in two parts: (1) a Desk Review to understand better how religion/faith and spirituality tend to define inclusive and caring education; (2) a Questionnaire Survey to seek examples and case studies of faith-inspired approaches to inclusive and caring education.

Three priority areas have emerged from our inquiries, which deserve further attention:

1. Teachers’ professional development, especially towards enabling teachers to be more skilled at facilitating dialogic and collaborative learning in classrooms of rich diversity;
2. Innovative approaches and practices of inclusive and caring education, notably in engaging girls, and other vulnerable students;
3. Safe, caring and inclusive learning spaces, including through digital platforms.

The G20/ IF20 Education Task Force invited high-level experts in the fields of education, faith and policy for an online consultation with the aim to review thematic proposals and make policy recommendations.

Inclusive education offers paths to enhancing students’ motivation for participation and learning, raising self- and other-awareness, reducing biases, enriching relationships, increasing capabilities in team work, collaboration and conflict transformation, enabling a greater sense of belonging and community, reducing bullying and violence, and most importantly, improving wellbeing and opportunities for all. Without inclusive and caring approaches, vulnerable children and young people are not only discriminated against within the current systems, they are also excluded from broader opportunities for learning and wellbeing. 

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2020 G20 Interfaith Forum:
Interfaith Approach to Advancing Inclusive Education

G20 Interfaith (IF20) Education-Task-Force —>

The key recommendations of the policy brief:

1. Advancing the Wellbeing of Every Child as the Core Aim of Education 

• Promoting wellbeing of all students in the learning community
• Introducing inclusive curricula
• Prioritising collaborative and co-creative learning in the classroom  

2. Ensuring Participation of All in Inclusive Learning Environments 

• Engaging [all] young people and empowering student voice and agency 
• Forming partnerships among schools, families and faith communities to support all children 
• Strengthening links between schools, faith communities, and wider society 

3. Aligning Teachers’ Professional Development with a Wellbeing and Inclusion Focus

• Reviewing national capability frameworks for teachers’ professional development
• Enhancing teachers’ awareness, sensitivity, and appreciation of diversity and inclusion 
• Enabling teachers to facilitate transformative, collaborative and dialogue-based learning