Broadening Educational Outcomes: Social Relations, Skills Development, and Employability for Youth

Abstract

This article argues that, if a global development aim is to address educational inequalities, the post-2015 agenda needs to conceptually and practically broaden the focus of learning to include social relations as important processes and outcomes for achieving educational equity. We draw on Sen’s capability approach and Bourdieu’s forms of capital to analytically examine longitudinal data from youth ages 14–20 who attend two schools in Tanzania that are implementing a skills development and entrepreneurship education program. Also drawing on interviews with NGO staff and community members, we identify that a lack of social relations in the community and discourses of youth as “at risk” constrain youths’ educational opportunities and future well-being. We found that affiliation, care, and imagined alternative futures are forms of social relations that play a critical role in their educational success and future livelihood opportunities.