SOSC 103D Social Inequality in HK Lecture 24: Educational Inequality

L24: Educational Expansion in HK Stages of education expansion: 1. During the 1970s expansion of the lower level of education 2. During the early 1990s expansion of university education 3. From late 1990s expansion of other tertiary education

L24: How does the society benefit from the general improvement in education? Productivity Culture Who benefit from the expansion?! The talented The rich

L24: Persistent Inequality Inequality in educational attainment remain stable since the early 20 th century. Hong Kong :

L24: Unequal access to education in HK Composition of University Students in 1981 and 2001 (David Post, 2003 p.558)

L24: Educational inequality?! Poorer grades  Less likely to get into university The class differences in school performance or examination grades 1. Genetic Effects a. Class differences in IQ b. Lack of endowment for educational success

L24: Educational inequality?! (cont ’ ) 2. Income effects a. Direct: buying assistance with education b. Indirect: general living condition Lower income  Less facilities and assistance  Poorer grades and performance  Less likely to get into university

L24: Other cultural factors 3. Cultural effects on school performance Use of language (Basil Bernstein)

L24: Other cultural factors Importance of acquiring the right culture: Newspaper reading Type of music Leisure activities: museum, galleries, travel Is school grades the only criteria?! Role of cultural capital in HK ’ s educational system: School Admission Cultural advantages

L24: Educational Inequality Educational standards reflect the unequal structure Transform the economic advantages to cultural capital Social OriginSocial Destination Education

L24: Readings: Ball, Stephen (1986) Education, ch. 4 & 5