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Last updated at 15:17 BST, Thursday, 30 June 2011

Poverty and Education

Boys looking at a computer at school

Do children from poorer backgrounds perform less well at school?

Dan and Alice talk about a new report which examines how poverty can affect children and their education.

This week's question:

In which country are children from poorer backgrounds most likely to succeed in exams? Is it:

a) Finland

b) Canada

c) South Korea

Listen out for the answer at the end of the programme!

Listen

Poverty and Education

End of Section

Vocabulary

the odds are stacked against you

it is very unlikely you will succeed because in your current situation many things will work against you

pupils

learners who are taught in a class

a level playing field

a situation allowing an equal chance for all participants to be successful at something

income

money earned from working

social and emotional

people living and interacting with each other (social); people responding outwardly to their feelings (emotional)

cognitive

the process of our brains learning, knowing and thinking about information

fidgety

making small, quick movements in a nervous way

restless

moving about aimlessly, unable to relax or focus on tasks

clingy

not wanting to be separated from other people, often physically holding on to them or seeking their attention

better-off

here, richer or from a more privileged background

counterpart

person who is at the same level (e.g. at school) or does the same job as someone else

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