Private Lessons as an Instrument for Middle Class Status Struggle in Post-socialist Societies: Poland and Ukraine Case Studies

Abstract

The aim of the article is to present the results of the research on taking private lessons among Polish and Ukrainian youth. The research was conducted in Polish-Ukrainian borderlands among upper secondary school graduates, with the use of survey method. 717 respondents were Polish, whereas 584 were Ukrainian. The results of research show that 62% of Polish students were taking private lessons, while in the Ukraine the number was 69%. Private lessons were taken especially by the students whose parents were educated, had higher positions at work and overall better economic background. The respondents taking private lessons had higher level of cultural capital measured by the number of books, better school achievements and high educational aspirations. The main purpose of taking private lessons was to increase the potential maturity exam results and to have further more chances of entering a prestigious university. The research reveals that the main adaptation strategy of the middle class confronting educational inflation and the risk of declassing is increasing educational expenditures. Eventually, such actions lead to further widening of education gap.