When: Thursday, June 25, 2020, 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. EDT
What: COVID-19 has laid bare the structural inequalities in many countries, especially in education. Education is perhaps one of the main mechanisms for societies to reduce inequality and for individuals to live healthy, productive, and fulfilling lives.
Around the world, the impact of school closures on student learning will vary by socioeconomic status and the extent to which schools can provide quality education remotely. While Finland and the United States are on their face both wealthy nations, they have different levels of structural inequality and have historically approached educational opportunity with distinct policy lenses. Given the contrasts, it is not surprising that they made different decisions regarding school closures and reopening in light of COVID-19.
On June 25, the Center for Universal Education will host a webinar to highlight the similarities and differences in the Finnish and U.S. approach to providing quality education for learners of all races, backgrounds, and income levels before and during the pandemic. Emiliana Vegas, senior fellow and co-director of the Center for Universal Education, will moderate a conversation between Li Andersson, minister of education of Finland, and John B. King, CEO of Education Trust and former U.S. Secretary of Education, on how differences in policies to ensure educational opportunity between the two countries may affect structural inequality. Brookings President John R. Allen will deliver opening remarks.
Viewers can submit questions via email to events@brookings.edu or via Twitter with #COVIDReopening.