Chapter 2 Education

Topic 3 Ethnic differences in achievement

Page 39
Activity: Discussion
Do cultural differences explain differences in achievement?

Learning objective
At the end of this activity you should be able to:
• Identify different cultural factors affecting the educational achievement of different ethnic
groups.

The effect of external factors on the achievement of ethnic groups varies depending on the
minority group being considered. In groups of four, prepare for a debate – ‘Cultural
differences between ethnic groups can explain differences in achievement between ethnic
groups’.

The following cultural factors have been found to affect the educational achievement of
different ethnic groups.
• Intellectual and linguistic skills
• Attitudes and values
• Family structure and parental support

1. For the following ethnic groups, note how each of these three factors may affect
achievement. [Note: not all factors may affect all groups.]
a) White working-class pupils
b) Pakistani pupils
c) Indian pupils
d) Black pupils
e) Chinese pupils

2. Use your research to take part in a class discussion: ‘Cultural differences between
ethnic groups can explain differences in achievement between ethnic groups’.

3. In pairs, write a paragraph summarising the discussion.

© 2015 Napier Press. All rights reserved