03 June 2016

A joint study done by Dr Cheung Hoi Shan, a post-doctoral fellow at the National University of Singapore, and Ms Ong Xiang Ling, a research officer at the Singapore Children’s Society, has revealed that students from better socio-economic backgrounds are more likely to attend Integrated Programme (IP) secondary schools as well as those that offer the Gifted Education Programme (GEP).

The fact that there is a significant disparity in secondary schools, where entry is supposed to be by merit, points to a possible perpetuation of class differences in schools, said the researchers.

Dr Cheung said that the findings point to some form of social stratification in Singapore’s schools. Elite schools tend to have families represented by higher socio-economic status and in neighbourhood schools, the reverse holds true.

Dr Cheung added that there could be a perpetuation of class differences due to the fact that students who start off with better socio-economic status have more resources and can therefore prepare themselves for examinations better and enjoy a higher level of confidence attaining better qualifications. This confidence makes their aspirations more likely to be achieved in reality.