Race differences in educational attainment of youth aged 7–18 in post-apartheid South Africa: the role of family structure, resources and school quality

Abstract

The present study uses seven waves of the General Household Survey by Statistics South Africa to examine the role of family structure, resources and school quality in educational inequalities in post-apartheid South Africa. Indians/Asians and whites have an education advantage over Africans and coloureds, and maintain that advantage as they age. About half of the disadvantage of Africans and coloureds is because of family background; very little is because of school characteristics that can be measured in this study. Findings show that the family institution is central in understanding racial inequalities in educational outcomes in South Africa.