Understanding Immigrant Students: Insights from Their Families
OER 09/20 YPD - A sociological study of migrant parents’ influences on children’s education: Implications for 1.5- and second-generation immigrant students and their integration in Singapore schools
Project Team
PI: Assistant Professor Yang Peidong, HSSE, NIE
Co-PI: Assistant Professor Yasmin Ortiga, Singapore Management University
Co-PI: Dr Teng Siao See, CRPP, NIE
Collaborator: Dr Lavanya Balachandran, National University of Singapore
Collaborator: Dr Heidi Layne, University of Jyväskylä
Research Associate: Mr Chow Lee Tat, HSSE, NIE
Project Description
With immigration at the core of this nation’s history, culture and identity, Singapore boasts an immense diversity that includes a growing body of immigrant children. These children form an important component of the student population in Singapore’s mainstream education system. Yet, little attention has been paid to this group of students, especially the impact of their immigrant backgrounds.
This study endeavoured to expand our understanding of immigrant students by tapping on the primary drivers of their educational careers—namely, immigrant parents and the influences they exert on their children’s education. Specifically, the study explored the philosophies, expectations and involvement of immigrant parents when engaging in their children’s education within local Singapore schools.
In-depth interviews were conducted with immigrant parents who had 1.5-/2nd generation children enrolled in the mainstream local schools. 64 parents participated in the study so far, including 31 Chinese, 14 Indians, 12 Filipinos, 4 Indonesians and 3 Others.
Findings showed that the perceptions and experiences of immigrant parents and their children were largely positive. Meanwhile, challenges relating to school admission were commonly mentioned. Immigrant parents also shared their parenting perspectives and practices regarding a range of challenges and issues, including shadow education, high stakes examination culture and Mother Tongue language education.
Project Implications
The findings reveal the diverse beliefs and practices that immigrant parents bring to bear on their children’s education.
A deeper understanding of the parental influences these immigrant-background children receive will help our education system and the society in generally better integrate them.
Some tentative recommendations to schools and policymakers:
- Provide targeted support for first-time immigrant families enrolling children for local schools.
- Increase staff awareness on the diversity of beliefs and needs pertinent to immigrant families.
- Explore the integrative potential of Mother Tongue language education outside the context of high-stakes exams.
Resources
- Immigrant Parents’ Perceptions of the Education System and Culture in Singapore (Ariel Chua Kit Yen)
- Cultural Heritage and Identity Formation: A Study of Second-Generation Immigrant Children through Parental Perspectives in Singapore (Kitty Loh Yi Fei)
- Immigrant Parenthood: Examining the impact of immigrant parents’ processes of negotiating parental ideologies on their children’s value education (Ryan Teo Ming Chong)
- Navigating through Singapore’s Education System as an Immigrant Parent (Tammy Eng Jing Rou)
- Immigrant Parents and Mother Tongue Language Education in Singapore’s Bilingual System (Britney Ong Qi Wen)
Journal Publications
- Ong, B., Chow, L.-T. & Yang, P. (2024) Immigrant Parents and Mother Tongue Language Education in Singapore’s Bilingual System. HSSE Online, 12(1), 16-29. https://hsseonline.nie.edu.sg/immigrant-parents-and-mother-tongue-language-education-in-singapores-bilingual-system/
- Eng, T., Chow, L.-T. & Yang, P. (2024) Navigating Singapore’s Education System as an Immigrant Parent. HSSE Online, 12(1), 30-42. https://hsseonline.nie.edu.sg/navigating-singapores-education-system-as-an-immigrant-parent/
- Chua, A., Chow, L.-T. & Yang, P. (2024) Immigrant Parents’ Articulation and Imaginings of the Singapore Education System. HSSE Online, 12(1), 43-52. https://hsseonline.nie.edu.sg/immigrant-parents-articulation-and-imaginings-of-the-singaporean-education-system/
- Loh, Y.-F., Chow, L.-T. & Yang, P. (2024) Cultural Heritage and Identity Formation: A Study of Second-Generation Immigrant Children through Parental Perspectives in Singapore. HSSE Online, 12(1), 53-59. https://hsseonline.nie.edu.sg/cultural-heritage-and-identity-formation-a-study-of-second-generation-immigrant-children-through-parental-perspectives-in-singapore/
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