The effect of socioeconomic status on the educational achievement of Form V students in Trinidad and Tobago

Abstract

Data from 192 students, their heads of households, and/or mothers were used to analyse the effect of home environment on the educational attainment of Form V students in Trinidad. The variables examined were socio-economic status, attitudes, achievement syndrome, race, and sex. Educational attainment was defined and measured in terms of the number of subjects passed in the General Certificate of Education (GCE) O'Level examination. The conclusion reached is that a child's success at school depends, to a large extent, on the type of school attended and, secondly, his home background, with the former deriving its character and influence from the latter