Factors Affecting Educational Achievement
Factors Affecting Educational Achievement
Socio-Economic Status
- Income and Wealth: Children from wealthier families tend to achieve higher due to better resources (e.g., books, computers), tuition, and attendance at well-resourced schools.
- Parental Education: Well-educated parents can provide additional guidance and may install a greater value to education.
Culture and Ethnicity
- Cultural Capital: The knowledge, habits, and skills from one’s family background can affect how well one navigates the education system.
- Ethnicity: Notions of ‘ethnicity stereotypes’ may influence teacher expectations and therefore impact student performance.
- Language: Learners for whom English is not their first language may have difficulties completing coursework or exams.
Gender
- Societal Expectations: Stereotypes can affect how females and males perceive their abilities, influencing their academic performance.
- Gender Bias in Schools: Teaching styles, materials and attitudes can unintentionally favour one gender, affecting achievement.
School Factors
- School Resources: Schools with better resources can offer more to their learners, aiding in achievement.
- Teacher Expectations: Teachers’ perceptions of learners may impact their approach to teaching, affecting learners’ performance.
- Peer Culture: Peer pressure and attitudes towards education can influence an individual’s engagement in school.
Other Factors
- Parental Involvement: Parents who are actively involved in their child’s learning tend to have children who perform better academically.
- Educational Policies: Policies implemented at national or school level can create systemic barriers or enhancements to education.
- Location: Schools in deprived areas may lack resources, while affluent areas may have schools with better facilities, affecting learning opportunities.