British-Chinese pupils' and parents' constructions of the value of education

Abstract

The high achievement of British-Chinese pupils in the British education system is established in the official literature, but few studies have asked British-Chinese pupils or parents about the factors contributing to their success. This paper explores value of education as a possible contributory aspect. It investigates the extent to which British-Chinese pupils and their parents value education, and the rationale behind their constructions in this regard. Cultural issues in the transmission of values are also explored. The findings demonstrate that British-Chinese pupils and their parents place an extremely high value on education, irrespective of social class and gender. However, pupils and parents do not necessarily provide the same explanations for this value. There is evidence, though, that the discourse of 'value of education' is mobilised as part of a cultural construction of racialised boundaries relating to the diasporic habitus of the Chinese in Britain. The paper discusses the benefits, costs and consequences for Chinese parents and pupils of their elevation and prioritisation of education.