Indian students outperforming white classmates

London, Nov 28 (UNI) Indian students in Britain are making faster progress in the three Rs than their white counterparts, it has emerged.

Asian children of Indian and Chinese descent raced further ahead and clinched record grades, specially in English and Maths, while those from African, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Caribbean backgrounds were still narrowing the gap behind white pupils.

As many as 47.8 per cent of Asian pupils achieved five GCSEs at grades A to C against 45.8 per cent of white British youngsters, Daily Mail reported.

A breakdown reveals 61.6 per cent of Indian pupils reached the benchmark five grades up 2.5 points last year.

Pakistani youngsters improved 2.2 points to 36.8 per cent while Bangladeshi pupils went up two points to 41 per cent.

Chinese pupils improved the most, rising 4.4 points.

Many of those outperforming white British children were unlikely to speak English at home.

White boys whose mother tongue was English achieved significantly lower standards than girls who spoke English as their second language.

The revelations would raise fresh concerns over the performance of white boys, particularly from working-class backgrounds.

The groups with the lowest scores were Irish traveller children and those from gipsy and Romany families.

Ministers yesterday hailed improvements among black pupils after 32.7 per cent of Caribbean youngsters reached the target, up 3.2 points.

Schools Minister Lord Adonis said this year's GCSE success was for minority ethnic pupils. ''Good GCSE results mean better life changes,'' he added.

UNI