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The Scottish government will distribute a £120 million budget (around $150 million) among schools to reach educational equity in the country.
According to a study about the educational gap in Scotland, students from well-off families perform better at school than students who are from low-income homes. The gap in the attainment of literacy and numerical ability between the two groups starts in early childhood.
To close this gap, the Scottish government previously established the Attainment Challenge Fund. The program, which allots £50 million (around $62 million) to schools annually, aims to give every student an equal opportunity to achieve their maximum potential regardless of family income.
In line with this goal, the government announced that they will be releasing a Pupil Equity Fund on top of the already existing attainment fund. The Pupil Equity Fund will be distributed among schools with the greatest needs.
The target beneficiaries of the fund are children who have been eligible for prior school assistance programs, such as free school meals. Schools will receive £1,200 (around $1,490) for every student that will qualify for the program.
Teachers and school heads can decide on how they will utilize the fund to reduce the attainment gap. One head teacher from a beneficiary school stated that the fund will be a huge help in expanding already existing programs for the pupils and their families, which include weekly family meals, homework group, and a summer club while school is on break. These activities aim to promote the well-being of the children and their families, which can boost the students’ academic performance.