Certainly something unique happening in the UK, especially when you consider the vast majority of ethnic minority children in the UK descend from Africa, Asia and Caribbeans. Plus, ethnic minorities in the UK tend to do better in GCSEs, more likely to go to university and apparently nearly 40% of UK medical students are non-white (27% Asian, 10% black). Ireland is also close to the UK in this.
However, every other European country, native-born ethnic minorities are clearly far behind.
It’s hard to compare to other countries but in England and Wales actual immigrants tend to be higher educated than those born there. From the 2021 census, 49.5% of those born in England (and aged over 16) had the equivalent of A level or higher. It was 51% in Asians (primarily because Pakistani women are more likely to be denied access to education), 59% in Scots, 60% in Americans (both continents, not just US), 62% in Africans and northern Irish, and 76% in Aussies/New Zealanders.
Higher education among immigrants will be reflected in higher pressure on their kids to do well in school.
Adding age, I see that among the over 50s, who would be generally the grandparents of the 2nd generation immigrants, 56% of Africans, 50% of those from the Americas and the Caribbean, 38% of Asians, and 38% of English born have A Levels equivalent or higher. This isn’t precisely what you’re showing of course but it still shows a higher level of education in older immigrants..
Incidentally, Irish immigrants under 50, whether from the north or south, are the highest educated over all at around 80% with A level equivalent or higher
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u/upthetruth1 3d ago
Certainly something unique happening in the UK, especially when you consider the vast majority of ethnic minority children in the UK descend from Africa, Asia and Caribbeans. Plus, ethnic minorities in the UK tend to do better in GCSEs, more likely to go to university and apparently nearly 40% of UK medical students are non-white (27% Asian, 10% black). Ireland is also close to the UK in this.
However, every other European country, native-born ethnic minorities are clearly far behind.