The Asians' Attitudes Towards the Importance of Education.

Asians view education as very important. That is my observation from what I have seen of my friends who come from across the globe. Malaysia, Singapore. India. South Korea. Japan. All whom I have met during my time at university in Toowoomba for the past three years.

An example would be a friend of mine, Avadhut, from India. He has observed that in India, it is very common for most young people to have had their first undergraduate/degree graduation. Many of them who come to Australia will come to pursue their postgrad studies, and rarely undergraduate studies.

A South Korean friend of mine, Claudia, who completed her undergraduate studies (she majored in Early Childhood) in Korea said that admission to universities in South Korea is extremely competitive. Koreans who have gone overseas to complete their undergraduate studies are looked down by their peers as it has been regarded that the level of studies in a foreign land is not considered as high as that of the status in Korea, as it has been the case that many of those local koreans would only go abroad to study if they could not enter local universities. Most however, would only go abroad to take up language studies (which is normally English) after they have completed their initial studies.

However the case is different for Malaysians. Many of the Malaysians who have pursued their studies abroad are normally of Chinese & Indian descent. The reason for this is due to competition with their own indigenous locals, as well as the "quota" imposed on the tertiary places in Malaysia. Also too, is the fact that many of the Malaysians who have completed their studies overseas are not keen to return to Malaysia for political reasons.

In Australia, students have the opportunity to be able to apply for government funding for their studies. The taxes for the common employee can be as high as 50% (the more you earn, the more taxes you pay!) and as such, many of the people expect much in return from the government. Another example I read recently, would be that sole parents who, once their children turn the age of 6 years, will no longer receive special parenting benefits unless they go and search for a minimum 15-hour job.

It is rare for any government in most Asian countries to provide any kind of government funding (unless you are eligible due to 'political' reasons), as well as the fact that taxes in Asian countries are very much lower.

As far as what I have observed from families in New Zealand, and Australia, even the asian parents do not feel obliged, do not have to provide for their children's education fees as many have the expectation that their children would be able to apply for funding.

Indeed, it would be the trend that most families too expect their children to work to fund themselves (for accommodation, entertainment and transportation fees).

In summary, it could be concurred that even Asians take on their current context i.e. political and ruling circumstances to provide financially for their offspring, but having just as high expectations from their children in terms of education regardless of the location