Differences in aspirations and educational trajectories of Russian schoolchildren

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the educational trajectories of Russian schoolchildren based on the longitudinal study «Trajectories in Education and Careers (TrEC)», conducted since 2011. Special attention is paid to the decision-making process related to advancing to the 10th grade and pursuing higher education after graduation. While many studies focus on the actual transition of schoolchildren to the next stage of education, our research examines students’ intentions and their demand for various educational trajectories even before the transition occurs. The study revealed significant differences in preferences for choosing an educational path among students with similar academic abilities but differing socio-economic statuses of their families. The results of logistic regressions indicate that one crucial predictor of students’ intentions is the education level of their parents, particularly that of the mother. This may suggest the presence of social immobility in Russia, highlighting that inequality of opportunity is reinforced by inequality of aspirations.