From Equality to Equity

The Concept

Equality and equity are often used interchangeably, but in education they mean very different things. Equality is about giving everyone the same thing. Equity is about recognizing differences and giving people what they actually need to succeed.

Why It Matters

• Same resources, unequal results: A student in a well-resourced suburb doesn’t face the same barriers as a student in an underfunded rural or Indigenous school.
• Fairness ≠ sameness: Treating every student identically can deepen gaps rather than close them.
• Systemic correction: Equity acknowledges that historic and ongoing injustices create uneven playing fields that require intentional redress.

The Canadian Context

• Per-student funding often fails to reflect the real costs of education in remote and Indigenous communities.
• Students with disabilities may receive “equal” access on paper, but inadequate supports in practice.
• Curriculum that treats Indigenous, immigrant, or racialized perspectives as add-ons reinforces systemic inequality.

The Opportunities

• Targeted support: More resources for those who face greater barriers.
• Policy redesign: Funding models that account for context, not just headcount.
• Inclusive practices: Building classrooms where all students can thrive, not just survive.

The Risks

• Perception of unfairness: Some see equity as “special treatment.”
• Policy drift: Efforts framed as equity can be watered down into generic equality.
• Token measures: Small fixes (e.g., diversity posters) without structural change.

The Bigger Picture

Moving from equality to equity requires shifting from a mindset of sameness to one of justice. Schools should not just mirror existing inequalities but actively work to dismantle them.

The Question

If education is the great equalizer, shouldn’t equity — not equality — be our guiding principle?