At Nord Anglia School Jakarta (NAS Jakarta), we believe every child deserves the opportunity to thrive, regardless of background. That is why we look to global thought leaders like Dr Claudia Costin, former Senior Director for Global Education at the World Bank, to guide the thinking behind our teaching and learning approach. Her decades of work in Brazil, combined with her insights from international education systems, offer valuable perspectives for Nord Anglia Education schools as we prepare students for an increasingly complex world.
In 2024, Dr Costin joined Nord Anglia Education's Advisory Board, supporting more than 80 schools worldwide, including NAS Jakarta, by offering external expertise in teaching and learning, safeguarding, and professional development. In a recent article for "insights", Nord Anglia Education's online magazine she responded to the question "why is equity so important to you?":
"You have to build equity, not by lowering the bar, but having big expectations for everyone and giving additional support to those who need it. It was very common in Brazil and in Rio to deal with poor kids by saying, ‘Oh, they’re poor. Don't challenge them too much; they should be cared for, but not really educated.’ That’s terrible! When I talk to teachers, I would say, ‘It’s like if I told you about someone joining a football team and you say he didn't eat well as a child and comes from a poor neighborhood, so he doesn't need to train so much.’ No, it's the opposite. You have to give additional support.
Building equity is very challenging because you need to develop an even better education for kids from vulnerable areas. It starts with what Carol Dweck calls a ‘growth mindset’. You can expect big growth in developing skills, in becoming a better citizen, in everything else, right? That sounds naive, but it's not. It's the way to build a cohesive society."
Click here to read the complete “In Conversation with Dr Claudia Costin” article on the Nord Anglia Education website.
