Object structure
Title:

Alice in the land of inequality. Book review: Zawistowska, Al. (2012). Horyzontalne nierówności edukacyjne we współczesnej Polsce [Horizontal educational inequality in contemporary Poland]

Creator:

Sawiński, Zbigniew

Publisher:

Educational Research Institute

Date:

2013

Abstract:

The author starts with a review of theories of educational inequality formulated during the last half-century. This review is complete and up to date and is therefore a useful resource for researchers and educational policy makers. For the purpose of analysis of empirical data the author has chosen a horizontal approach which examines factors influencing choice between available educational paths. The analyses presented in the book include (a) the impact of social background on middle school choice decisions (whether public or private), (b) determining factors for secondary school choice after completing middle school and (c) choice of university and field of study at tertiary level. Although the findings presented are fragmentary and do not provide a picture of the whole system, the book convincingly supports the benefits of a horizontal approach to understanding and explaining educational inequality in Poland. These shortcomings result from the weakness of the available data which were collected in studies following different methodological perspectives in some cases restricted to local communities. Despite these limitations, the book is a valuable summary of current knowledge about horizontal inequalities in Poland and at the same time identifies areas which require further research.

Bibliographic citation:

Edukacja. 2013, 1 (121)

Subject and Keywords:

educational inequalities ; horizontal inequalities ; educational careers ; education in Poland

Coverage:

21st century

Language:

pol

Rights:

Creative Commons BY 4.0

Resource Type:

article

Format:

application/pdf

ISSN:

0239-6858

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