Research Article

Measuring educational equity: A cross-country analysis

Volume: 64 Number: 64 June 27, 2026
TR EN

Measuring educational equity: A cross-country analysis

Abstract

Despite the growing interest in educational equity in recent years, there remains a gap in the literature regarding its measurement. The aim of this study is to evaluate countries' performance in educational equity by integrating multi-criteria decision-making methods. Based on a comprehensive dataset from the OECD, the criteria were weighted, and 51 countries were ranked and classified according to their equity performance in education. The MEREC method was used to determine the weights of the criteria, while the MABAC method was employed for ranking the countries. The findings revealed that the policy of providing an inclusive school environment holds the highest importance, followed by contributions to economic and social outcomes, investment in early childhood education, and the development of foundational skills, respectively. In the country rankings, Spain, Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Norway ranked at the top, while the Czechia, Argentina, Slovakia, Brazil, and Indonesia were positioned at the bottom. The findings indicate that educational equity can be achieved not only through the allocation of resources but also through multidimensional factors such as the psychosocial environment, leadership, digital skills, and social well-being. Furthermore, the results highlight the critical role of balanced performance-particularly in prioritised areas-rather than exceptionally high performance in only a few domains. This study provides a data-driven evaluation framework for assessing education systems.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

Ethics committee approval for this study was obtained from National Defence University Ethics Committee (Date: 23.07.2025, Number: E-35592990-050.04-5037895).

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Education Management, Education Policy

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

June 27, 2026

Submission Date

December 12, 2025

Acceptance Date

June 1, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 64 Number: 64

APA
Maral, M. (2026). Measuring educational equity: A cross-country analysis. Marmara Üniversitesi Atatürk Eğitim Fakültesi Eğitim Bilimleri Dergisi, 64(64), 563-589. https://doi.org/10.15285/maruaebd.1840679
AMA
1.Maral M. Measuring educational equity: A cross-country analysis. Marmara Education Journal. 2026;64(64):563-589. doi:10.15285/maruaebd.1840679
Chicago
Maral, Muammer. 2026. “Measuring Educational Equity: A Cross-Country Analysis”. Marmara Üniversitesi Atatürk Eğitim Fakültesi Eğitim Bilimleri Dergisi 64 (64): 563-89. https://doi.org/10.15285/maruaebd.1840679.
EndNote
Maral M (June 1, 2026) Measuring educational equity: A cross-country analysis. Marmara Üniversitesi Atatürk Eğitim Fakültesi Eğitim Bilimleri Dergisi 64 64 563–589.
IEEE
[1]M. Maral, “Measuring educational equity: A cross-country analysis”, Marmara Education Journal, vol. 64, no. 64, pp. 563–589, June 2026, doi: 10.15285/maruaebd.1840679.
ISNAD
Maral, Muammer. “Measuring Educational Equity: A Cross-Country Analysis”. Marmara Üniversitesi Atatürk Eğitim Fakültesi Eğitim Bilimleri Dergisi 64/64 (June 1, 2026): 563-589. https://doi.org/10.15285/maruaebd.1840679.
JAMA
1.Maral M. Measuring educational equity: A cross-country analysis. Marmara Education Journal. 2026;64:563–589.
MLA
Maral, Muammer. “Measuring Educational Equity: A Cross-Country Analysis”. Marmara Üniversitesi Atatürk Eğitim Fakültesi Eğitim Bilimleri Dergisi, vol. 64, no. 64, June 2026, pp. 563-89, doi:10.15285/maruaebd.1840679.
Vancouver
1.Muammer Maral. Measuring educational equity: A cross-country analysis. Marmara Education Journal. 2026 Jun. 1;64(64):563-89. doi:10.15285/maruaebd.1840679