Schools and post-secondary aspirations among female Chinese, Malay and Indian normal stream students

Abstract

Based on in-depth interviews with 60 Normal stream Chinese, Malay and Indian students, this paper explore some of the factors found located within the family and school that influence their post-secondary aspirations. The concept of combined familial resources is proposed to be more analytically constructive than reference to either the family socioeconomic status or ethnicity when accounting for differential aspirations and outcomes. In school, being in the Normal stream limits the post-secondary aspirations of respondents. The "streaming effect" also segregates respondents from their ethnic counterparts in the Express stream. In addition, there is ethnic segregation within the Normal stream. Respondents' preference for mother tongue usage and the sense that they have little in common with other ethnic groups outside the school are factors behind such division. Co-Curricular Activities, especially uniformed groups, can be effective in bridging inter-stream and inter-ethnic group divides. The paper concludes by suggesting some policy implications and recommendations based on these findings.