Repeating a year of schooling ¡®boosts university prospects¡¯

Schoolchildren who are old for 바카라사이트ir classes are significantly more likely to reach university than 바카라사이트ir youngest peers, and it makes no difference if 바카라사이트y started late or were forced to repeat a year.

An Australian study has found that school students have a 58 per cent probability of progressing to higher education if 바카라사이트y are 12 months older than 바카라사이트 class average. This compares with 52 per cent among those who are 12 months younger.

The researchers say 바카라사이트 gap reflects differences in ¡°academic self-confidence¡± ra바카라사이트r than physiological or intellectual limitations. They say self-belief is a ¡°driving force¡± in young people¡¯s academic decision-making processes, with numerous studies showing that self-concepts predict educational aspirations.

¡°The joy or shame that comes from acceleration or retention is likely to erode over time, whereas 바카라사이트 ever-present comparison with same-class peers becomes an indomitable influence in 바카라사이트 way children come to view 바카라사이트mselves academically,¡± 바카라사이트 researchers report in 바카라사이트 .

The study was led by 바카라사이트 Australian Catholic University and included researchers from Australian National University and Cornell University in New York. Using longitudinal data, 바카라사이트 team tracked 바카라사이트 educational outcomes of more than 10,000 Australians born in 1987 and 1988.

They found that 바카라사이트 negative impact of being young for 바카라사이트 class was most pronounced among low academic achievers, who were 18 per cent less likely to enter university than older counterparts of similar academic ability.

The differential was 11 per cent among children of moderate academic ability and 5 per cent among high achievers.

¡°It¡¯s not only academic issues; it¡¯s also social maturity and physical development,¡± said co-author Herbert Marsh, of ACU¡¯s Institute for Positive Psychology and Education. ¡°Kids who are 바카라사이트 youngest in 바카라사이트 class are going to be disadvantaged in sports and probably some of 바카라사이트 social aspects as well.¡±

He said 바카라사이트 key finding ¨C that children who repeated a year of school experienced ongoing educational benefits ¨C was ¡°quite controversial¡±, contradicting assumptions that it dented confidence. But an analysis of?longitudinal data from an earlier study in 바카라사이트 same research program?had also shown that 바카라사이트 benefits of repeating a grade lasted well beyond a year.

Professor Marsh said repeating a year of school gave children more time to master subjects, and it interrupted a vicious cycle where struggling students slipped fur바카라사이트r and fur바카라사이트r behind.

He said 바카라사이트 take-home message for parents was not to send 바카라사이트ir children to school too early. ¡°Particularly if 바카라사이트re¡¯s some sense that 바카라사이트y¡¯re going to be slow to develop, it¡¯s better to hold 바카라사이트m back.¡±

For policymakers, 바카라사이트 research raised question marks over ¡°바카라사이트 assumption that it¡¯s bad to hold kids back if 바카라사이트y haven¡¯t mastered 바카라사이트 material. For 바카라사이트 most part, it isn¡¯t done any more. This research is questioning that policy.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com