Graduate dads, brighter kids?
MM Lee's data troubling but not conclusive, say experts
By Rachel Chang & Cai Haoxiang
NUMBERS showing a gulf between the parental background of students in top secondary schools and that of their peers in neighbourhood schools have raised eyebrows for their implication of potential social stratification.
Revealed by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew after a visit to Dunman High School on Monday, the statistics showed that in top schools like Raffles Institution and Anglo-Chinese School (Independent), the percentage of students whose fathers are university graduates does not fall below 50 per cent.
In contrast, in neighbourhood schools like Jurong West Secondary and Bukit Merah Secondary, the number hovered around 10 per cent.
Experts yesterday said the statistics were troubling as they implied that the offspring of less-educated parents were likely to be out of the top echelons of academic achievement.
But the experts also cautioned that the numbers alone were not enough to conclude that social mobility is declining in Singapore, as factors such as the massive expansion of university education in recent years must be taken into account.
Some also noted that less well-educated parents may be deterred from sending their children - however bright - to a top school out of fear that their children would not be able to keep up socially with other children there.
Nominated MP and sociologist Paulin Tay Straughan notes: 'The data say that no matter how teachers intervene in primary school, family influence is not wiped out at PSLE.'
That is, the benefits that a child gets from a fostering family background - more likely to be provided by well-educated parents - gives them an edge.
[COLOR="_______"]'We could say that it is genetics,' [/COLOR]she added, referring to the belief that smart parents produce smarter children. 'But as sociologists, we always argue that besides genetic predisposition, there are other social factors at play.'
Mr Lee emphasised on Monday that better-educated parents tend to surround their children with books and learning aids from a young age. He encouraged less-educated parents to take their children to public libraries to provide some of the same.
National University of Singapore sociologist Chua Beng Huat said that to do a comprehensive study of social stratification in the educational landscape, it would be necessary to look at the backgrounds of all students who make it to university.
The expansion of university education opportunities in recent years means that a student who attends a neighbourhood school may still get a degree later, and have good career prospects.
In 2000, only 9.5 per cent of Singaporeans had gone to university. The figure today is 18 per cent.
'Secondary school does not mean much,' said National Institute of Education lecturer Travina Kang. 'It doesn't tell you what your position in the social hierarchy is going to be.'
The fact that schools like Anglo-Chinese (Independent) and Methodist Girls' School have feeder primary schools may also account for the higher proportion of students with well-educated parents, she added.
As Singapore adjusts from its developing phase to a mature economy, it is likely that social mobility will taper off; this has been the trend in other countries.
'In the past, everyone started from zero. But now that most people are middle-class, there will be less upward movement,' said NUS sociologist Tan Ern Ser.
All the experts interviewed agreed on one thing: that more data would be necessary before firmer conclusions can be reached. For example, time series data on students' family backgrounds.
The data of the type revealed by Mr Lee on Monday are rarely in the public domain.
'Correlation is not causation,' said Minister of State for Education and Home Affairs Masagos Zulkifli, referring to the fact that a student's parental background may merely coincide with his or her academic ability, rather than be its main cause. 'We need the full picture.'
He argued for a different perspective of the issue. 'Why are we looking at the 55 per cent?' he asked, referring to the percentage of Raffles Institution students whose fathers are university graduates. 'Let's study the 45 per cent. Who are they, how did they make it, and how do we help others become like them?'
[email protected]
[email protected]
MM Lee's data troubling but not conclusive, say experts
By Rachel Chang & Cai Haoxiang
NUMBERS showing a gulf between the parental background of students in top secondary schools and that of their peers in neighbourhood schools have raised eyebrows for their implication of potential social stratification.
Revealed by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew after a visit to Dunman High School on Monday, the statistics showed that in top schools like Raffles Institution and Anglo-Chinese School (Independent), the percentage of students whose fathers are university graduates does not fall below 50 per cent.
In contrast, in neighbourhood schools like Jurong West Secondary and Bukit Merah Secondary, the number hovered around 10 per cent.
Experts yesterday said the statistics were troubling as they implied that the offspring of less-educated parents were likely to be out of the top echelons of academic achievement.
But the experts also cautioned that the numbers alone were not enough to conclude that social mobility is declining in Singapore, as factors such as the massive expansion of university education in recent years must be taken into account.
Some also noted that less well-educated parents may be deterred from sending their children - however bright - to a top school out of fear that their children would not be able to keep up socially with other children there.
Nominated MP and sociologist Paulin Tay Straughan notes: 'The data say that no matter how teachers intervene in primary school, family influence is not wiped out at PSLE.'
That is, the benefits that a child gets from a fostering family background - more likely to be provided by well-educated parents - gives them an edge.
[COLOR="_______"]'We could say that it is genetics,' [/COLOR]she added, referring to the belief that smart parents produce smarter children. 'But as sociologists, we always argue that besides genetic predisposition, there are other social factors at play.'
Mr Lee emphasised on Monday that better-educated parents tend to surround their children with books and learning aids from a young age. He encouraged less-educated parents to take their children to public libraries to provide some of the same.
National University of Singapore sociologist Chua Beng Huat said that to do a comprehensive study of social stratification in the educational landscape, it would be necessary to look at the backgrounds of all students who make it to university.
The expansion of university education opportunities in recent years means that a student who attends a neighbourhood school may still get a degree later, and have good career prospects.
In 2000, only 9.5 per cent of Singaporeans had gone to university. The figure today is 18 per cent.
'Secondary school does not mean much,' said National Institute of Education lecturer Travina Kang. 'It doesn't tell you what your position in the social hierarchy is going to be.'
The fact that schools like Anglo-Chinese (Independent) and Methodist Girls' School have feeder primary schools may also account for the higher proportion of students with well-educated parents, she added.
As Singapore adjusts from its developing phase to a mature economy, it is likely that social mobility will taper off; this has been the trend in other countries.
'In the past, everyone started from zero. But now that most people are middle-class, there will be less upward movement,' said NUS sociologist Tan Ern Ser.
All the experts interviewed agreed on one thing: that more data would be necessary before firmer conclusions can be reached. For example, time series data on students' family backgrounds.
The data of the type revealed by Mr Lee on Monday are rarely in the public domain.
'Correlation is not causation,' said Minister of State for Education and Home Affairs Masagos Zulkifli, referring to the fact that a student's parental background may merely coincide with his or her academic ability, rather than be its main cause. 'We need the full picture.'
He argued for a different perspective of the issue. 'Why are we looking at the 55 per cent?' he asked, referring to the percentage of Raffles Institution students whose fathers are university graduates. 'Let's study the 45 per cent. Who are they, how did they make it, and how do we help others become like them?'
[email protected]
[email protected]
