Measuring the wealth effect on education

[HitandRun]

Cityfarmer

I'm a little surprised.

IMHO, the thrust of your article appears to be that "Dr Jerrim said he was surprised to discover a considerable gap in access to selective colleges and universities even after accounting for differences in academic performance as measured by grades or standardised tests."

In other words, even if we pick a sample of students with exactly the same grades, there appears to be a greater tendency for students of a more privileged background to be selected for certain universities.

IMHO, this observation is different from that of students from a privileged background obtaining better grades.

Based on the comments on this thread, our forumners appear to be ignoring the findings of the study or am I just splitting hairs?

[Temperament]

"Dr Jerrim said he was surprised to discover a considerable gap in access to selective colleges and universities even after accounting for differences in academic performance as measured by grades or standardised tests."

“When you take academic achievement into account, you can explain some of the difference, but not all of them,” said Dr Jerrim.

“What this means is that there are significant numbers of working-class children who, even though they have the academic credentials to be admitted to elite colleges, are either not being admitted or choosing not to apply.”
Unquote:-
For Singapore, it started in PLSE year to secondary school for some students. i am speaking from my own experience. Now if you do a survey research, i think it's still the same.

[CityFarmer]

Cityfarmer

I'm a little surprised.

IMHO, the thrust of your article appears to be that "Dr Jerrim said he was surprised to discover a considerable gap in access to selective colleges and universities even after accounting for differences in academic performance as measured by grades or standardised tests."

In other words, even if we pick a sample of students with exactly the same grades, there appears to be a greater tendency for students of a more privileged background to be selected for certain universities.

IMHO, this observation is different from that of students from a privileged background obtaining better grades.

Based on the comments on this thread, our forumners appear to be ignoring the findings of the study or am I just splitting hairs?

Well, I don't seem having the same observation.

Academic grade isn't the ONLY factor, that the privileged students are selected for the universities. Other factors comes into play e.g. confidence, communication skill etc.

[specuvestor]

There is this paper but it's hidden behind a paywall.

Education and intergenerational mobility in Singapore
Irene Y.H. Ng

Abstract:
International research on the effects of educational regimes on intergenerational mobility suggests that Singapore’s education system possesses characteristics that tend to decrease intergenerational mobility. These characteristics include ability-based and school-based streaming, privatization of basic and tertiary education, expansion of tertiary education while increasing fees, and possibly regressive public expenditure on education. These characteristics are motivated by a belief in offering multiple pathways for success, and thereby developing a globally competitive workforce. However, comparisons between Singapore and Finland suggest that greater equity and mobility can be achieved without necessarily compromising students’ performance and the nation’s economic competitiveness. Given wide income disparity and at best moderate intergenerational mobility in Singapore, evaluations of the mobility effects of the various characteristics of Singapore’s education system should be conducted. Priority should be given to rethinking Singapore’s educational model. Remedial interventions such as bursaries and peripheral interventions such as the regulation of early education or private tuition have limited effectiveness if the main system reinforces immobility. The lessons in this study for Singapore can also be extended to other countries with differentiated education systems.

I dont totally disagree but to say we suck when compared to finland seems a bit data mining to me I also don't agree with the assessment of "wide income disparity" which is different from saying it is widening, which it is, obviously

The root system of meritocracy should prevail, and letting poorer children gain access to better institutions is the key. As usual the devil is in the detail, including how an ascribed environment plays a part vis a viz a poor and rich child.

http://www.businessinsider.com/why-finla...gs-2013-12
http://www.businessinsider.com/pisa-rankings-2013-12

[yeokiwi]

Cityfarmer

I'm a little surprised.

IMHO, the thrust of your article appears to be that "Dr Jerrim said he was surprised to discover a considerable gap in access to selective colleges and universities even after accounting for differences in academic performance as measured by grades or standardised tests."

In other words, even if we pick a sample of students with exactly the same grades, there appears to be a greater tendency for students of a more privileged background to be selected for certain universities.

IMHO, this observation is different from that of students from a privileged background obtaining better grades.

Based on the comments on this thread, our forumners appear to be ignoring the findings of the study or am I just splitting hairs?

Well, I don't seem having the same observation.

Academic grade isn't the ONLY factor, that the privileged students are selected for the universities. Other factors comes into play e.g. confidence, communication skill etc.

Sometimes, we need to look at the more privileged group of students in Singapore to see the extent of social mobility.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19495513
The above article was published by SMA.

It can be observed that while 32.3% of Singaporean households have a
monthly household income of < S$3,000, a significantly
lower proportion of medical students (21.9%) fall under
this range (p < 0.001). At the other end of the spectrum,
while 28.8% of Singaporean households have a monthly
income of > S$7,000, a much higher proportion (34.1%)
of medical students fall under this range (p < 0.001).

Medical degree is expensive and so it does affect the selection of the course by poor students.