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February 4, 2005
University Students Raise University Students
If a child’s parents went to university, the child is more
likely to go to university. The influence of parental education
levels is even strong enough to overcome financial obstacles in
most cases. These are the findings of a new study authored by
Ross Finnie, a professor at the School of Policy Studies at
Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. |
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The study showed that parents’ influences can be seen through
high school grades and attitudes, which affect whether a student
will attend university. Finnie explained this study has an
overall policy implication. These factors can be seen early, and
if policy makers want to see more students in postsecondary
schools in Canada, they must pursue the problem early.
Other important factors affecting children’s postsecondary
schooling were found in this study.
• University attendance by children increased by as much as 5%
for each additional year of parents’ postsecondary education.
• Fathers’ education has a greater effect on sons than
daughters.
• Children from 2-parent families were 25% more likely to attend
some form of higher education than children from single-mother
families.
• Asian men are 23% more likely to enter into postsecondary
school.
• Native Canadians have very low participation rates.
Author Finnie said many Native Canadians’ parents have not gone
to university, but indirect factors have an impact, too.
Finnie’s study used data from two studies; Statistics Canada’s
1991 and 1995 School Leavers Surveys. These inquiries gathered
information on the intentions of students when they finished
high school and again when they were on their early 20s.
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