Is English a Barrier for Students’ Aspirations to Continue After Compulsory Education?

• In Event: Virtual Poster Session
  In Virtual iPresentation Only: Division J - Section 2a: College Student Access, Trajectories, and Transitions Virtual Poster Session

Abstract

By using data from the China Education Panel Study (CEPS), this study examines factors
including socioeconomic status (SES) and English proficiency as predictors of students'
educational goals in Grades 7 and 9, the first and last years of middle school. This gives more
account of the contentious debate over English's status as a compulsory subject in China. This
research examines the contemporary environment in Chinese education system, existing
evidence, research objectives, data analysis, followed by the results. Conclusion are drawn in
the final section. Findings from descriptive and linear regression analysis highlight English's
significant role in shaping educational aspirations, followed by SES.

Keywords: Educational Aspiration - Performance in English - SES - Secondary Data Analysis - China

Author

• Yi Feng, Durham University