Ethnic Group Differences in Educational Achievement in Fiji

Abstract

Over 600 Form IV (tenth grade) students in Fiji were tested on measures of achievement orientation, self-esteem, sex typing, and certain demographic variables to determine why ethnic Fijians have relatively low educational achievement compared to other ethnic groups. Although ethnic Fijians scored relatively high on Competitiveness, Mastery, and Work Orientation, and relatively low on Personal Unconcern and Self-Esteem, none of the variables adequately predicted scores on the Fiji Junior Exam, taken seven months later, for the native groups. It is likely that factors relating to the meaning of achievement are more important in understanding ethnic group differences in achievement in Fiji than are measures of individual achievement orientation.