Self-identity issues of South Asian young people in Australian schools

The aim of this study is to ascertain the perceptions of South Asian parents and young people with regard to a range of identity-related issues and education. To obtain a comprehensive and balanced picture, a number of white teachers is also included in the research. A representative sample of students was drawn from three high schools; two located in a city area and the third in a rural area of New South Wales. Eighteen parents and thirty students and sixteen teachers were interviewed to discover their attitudes and perceptions towards: bilingualism and the teaching of community languages, religious orientation, gender issues, identity, prejudice and racism, and acculturation. In addition, seventy-five boys and girls completed an established Acculturation Scale. The responses of the non-manual group are compared with that of the manual group and the implications for the education of South Asian young people are drawn.