Exploring Heads’ Perspective on Social Justice for Students in Higher Education Institutions in Pakistan

Abstract

Equal opportunity does not imply equal treatment: rather it means fair treatment (Ghosh, 2012). Fair treatment and providing equal opportunities to enhance individual’s capability, irrespective of any personal or societal differences, can contribute in providing excellence in education that leads to social justice. The objective of the study was to explore heads’ perspectives of students’ equitable access to educational resources, equitable participation and equitable outcomes in higher education. The study had also explored heads’ perspectives on students’ personal barriers to social justice and equity. To explore the perspective of heads on social justice for students in universities, data had been collected from 17 leaders working in higher education, by using multistage sampling technique. An interview protocol was developed to explore the perspective on social justice connected to leaders for bringing improvements in education so that all students get equal opportunities to excel in education. The results presented less positive situation of social justice and equity in public sector higher education. The study recommends that the education system needs to consider social justice and equity to ensure heads’ commitment to social justice and equity principles, leading to equal opportunities for making students’ capability better in higher education institutions in Pakistan.