The International Observatory on Academic Achievement - Documentary search

File number :
IST-ISC-24e

Bibliographic reference :
Taylor, A., & Krahn, H. (2005). Aiming High: Educational Aspirations of Visible Minority Immigrant Youth, Canadian Social Trends, 79, Statistics Canada, no. 11-008, pp.8-12.

Abstract :

The goal of this analysis was to examine the educational aspirations of fifteen-year-old, visible minority immigrant youths and to compare them with those of young, non-visible minority Canadians. Factors likely underlying ethnocultural differences in educational aspirations are presented.

Data Used
Data drawn from the 2000 Youth in Transition Survey (YITS) were used and matched with data drawn from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). Additional information was collected from school managerial staff (1000 schools) and parents. For the most part, the 26,000 youths surveyed with a questionnaire were 15 years of age. Visible minority students surveyed were first- or second-generation immigrants.

Higher Aspirations for Immigrant Students
Visible minority immigrant students had higher educational aspirations than non-visible minority Canadian students. In the two groups, more female students wanted to earn a post-secondary diploma. Similarly, inner-city students appeared to be more inclined to set higher educational objectives for themselves. The lowest rate of students wanting to pursue university studies was in Quebec, which may be explained by the presence of the provincial college network.

With the effects related to gender, family structure, native language, area and community size controlled, statistics showed that visible minority immigrant students were once again more likely to want to attain the university level than were non-visible minority Canadian students in most areas of the country. This proportion accounted for 84% of female visible minority immigrant students compared to 63% of female non-visible minority Canadian students. Among male students, the same trend translated into a proportion of 75% compared to 51%.

On average, the parents of visible minority immigrant students were better educated (at least one parent had a university diploma) than non-visible minority Canadian students (35% compared to 21%). Even among visible minority immigrant students whose parents were less educated (neither parent had a university diploma), the level of aspirations was nonetheless higher.

Factors Behind Ethnocultural Differences in Educational Aspirations
First, parents’ aspirations regarding their children’s studies, parents’ educational level and students’ academic results appeared to have major positive effects on students’ educational goals.

Second, students’ and friends’ engagement in school, university-preparation courses and family income proved to have moderately strong effects on student educational aspirations.

Lastly, family structure, native language, parents’ participation in school and parents’ supervision of teenagers appeared to be factors unlikely to influence educational aspirations.

Links :
http://www.statcan.ca/english/ads/11-008-XIE/index.htm

Key Words :
Educational Aspirations, Immigrants, Visible Minority, Gender, Parental Educational Level, Socio-economic Conditions, Family Structure, Native Language, Urban Settings, Youth in Transition Survey (YITS), Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), Newsletter7

Monitored Countries :
Quebec (Canada)