Successful Parents

The majority of university students' parents achieved some academic success in spite of the conditions prevailing when they were attending school, namely depression, then war, which would have forced a premature end to many school studies. What percentage of today's parents achieved UE or higher while at school in the 1930s and 40s? Even in 1969 only 22% of school leavers achieved UE or higher. Yet 49% of male university students had fathers with this qualification or higher in 1969, and 60% of female students had fathers with the same educational level. Students from academic backgrounds are disproportionately represented at university.

More revealing is the job and income status of university students' parents. From tables two and three it is evident that the incomes of most university students' parents are in the upper income bracket, and their jobs are high status jobs. 21% of all male students and 26% of female university students in 1969 had parents with combined incomes of over $6000. Most university students' fathers have middle class jobs; 36% of male and 43% of female students' fathers' jobs are in the professional, administrative and executive category.

The extent of the disproportionate representation at university of the children of higher income and status groups is indicated by national census figures for incomes and occupations as represented by tables four and five. Although the figures are not strictly comparable, the disparity is so obvious that it cannot be a statistical inaccuracy caused by a lack of strict correlation.