Q. Ethinicity and academic performance.

Salaam z.

Well, not really bro. If you have notice there is still a percentage of pure malay parentage performing well in schools. I have also encountered personally, malays of mixed parentage not performing well in school.

It boils down to the positive support from the family and environment. And also the individual him/herself to do well in school and in society.

What matters most is the values and belief that has been ingrained in their daily lives.

If a foundation is not laid properly, the house that is build on it will be unstable.

(In my work I have the privilege to work and sometimes guide students who come for attachments. I have seen a fair share of laid back and hard working malay students. When I encounter the hard working ones, I praise them, for they truly deserve encouragement and I would treat them chocolates =D )

Fir

Salaam z and Fir2man,

We cannot say this claim too easily. As a minority, Malays have a different outlook. Social life of Malays is generally less competitive and geared towards family bonding (at least till recently). I received many feedbacks from my Chinese friends that they do feel the bonding in Malay and their family much better rather than Chinese in Singapore. I do not feel this is truly correct or wrong for both races, but I safely say that the Malay's conservative culture inherits the Muslim attitude of a humility and simple minded attitude to an extent, at least till now.

Of course, like in z's views, I feel Fir2man has mentioned a good point. Its how the parent cultivates the child with how they believe makes a child successful. In the world context today, success career does not equal to success in personal and social life, including celebrities ranging from Britney Spears, Michael Jackson to Marilyn Monroe. Like Fir2man, I see problems for some children from inter-marriage couples and family too, some are which, quite complex. Words like compromise and commitment from some inter-marriage issues may be an ‘easy-way-out’ excuses from these groups, but the challenges and issues goes far more than anyone could bargained or expected for.

Furthermore, I find the younger generation slowly lacking their moral compass and spiritual discipline. Just take a peek of MediaCorp kid's central channel in Singapore with the typical TV slogans reverberating with “Do what you want! (Or termed DWUW)" phrases; Are these words ever taught by any religious or philosophical personalities in any world history? Yet such words were inculcated in the young minds today without us knowingly expecting the consequences. From cartoons such as 'The Simpson’s' to those in “Sponge bob Square pants”, I sincerely feel that Muslims and non-Muslims should rather reflect into our educational, cultural and social growth presently in Singapore today in the future.

Asker's comment:

Fir,
I do not dispute, there is still a percentage of 'pure' Malays doing well in school and I agree positive support from family and environment are important.

Fariz,
If social life of Malays is more geared towards family bonding, this should contribute to better performance and not the other way round.
I do not agree that Malay's conservative culture should be associated , even remotely, to Islam.

My view is that intermarriages often merged the best values from both cultures.Often, not always.

Salaam Z, =)

Just wanna share a little bit of knowledge i have about this.

Ive been observing it too! And ive listened from some of my friends who had views that children from mixed parentage mostly excelled in their academics.

For me, this is my take.
I have to agree to a certain extend that it does have an effect.
1) Maybe due to the uniqueness of values and style of upbringing of each culture,(im not siding to any particular group)so the child experience 2 sides of upbringing method,which is beneficial insyaAllah.
2) The child has attained versatility in adapting himself. Exposure of 2 or more culture diversity. This would give them an advantage to strike a conversation, we Malay say "bahan perbualan" =D,when having conversations with their circle of friends, children would often exchange their views with their friends.
With this views, it widens their perspectives in many areas, thus igniting this thirst of knowledge.

But I have to disagree too.Alhamdullilah ive been given the opportunity to work in a Malay/Muslim organisation. It showed me that people who had a particular upbringing(Malay in this case) can excel in their academics too. I belief that all of this saying that if you're born from a pure Malay family, most probably you'll excel a little or stay average, is just a stigma.
Maybe the influence of media, maybe the environment, maybe the mindset of the community. I shall not elaborate.

I've seen our own people excelled in their studies,maybe not many are on top(for now), but alhamdullilah it has been showing a positive sign that we are moving forward, and insyaAllah our community would continue to istiqamah to remove this stigma.

Overall, i belief that everyone from every race or religion are given the same opportunities to excel in the things they do. It is just a matter of changing oneself to become better.

Maybe before i end, can i share a verse from the Al Quran which i hope it would be beneficial to everyone.
"..Verily, Allah will not change the (good) condition of a people as long as they do not change their state (of goodness) themselves..."
Ar Ra'd (13:11)

The takeaways from this verse,to succeed we must change it with our own two hands, and most importantly make doa to ask for His help.

I hope this little knowledge I have, have benefitted you and others.
Im sorry if there's any shortcomings in this reply, and all good things comes from Allah swt, insyaAllah.

Wasalaam. =)