The educational dilemma of the Malay youths in Singapore : the perception of the value of higher education.

To understand the educational marginality of the Malays in Singapore, this project examines the perceptions Malay youths have of higher education. This project aims at identifying how and why social and institutional factors, namely ethnicity, family, peers, education system and gender shape the perceptions of these youth and how these factors can intersect to influence these perceptions. These five factors were chosen after reviewing the available literature on understanding perceptions of education. The project will utilize the theories of Pierre Bourdieu to understand the relationships between social and mental structures. Bourdieu’s concept of cultural capital and misrecognition will be used in the analysis of the data collected.Bachelor of Art