Mainland, Indian parents pickiest about education

Chinese parents have big ambitions for their children and most expect them to achieve a master's degree or higher, according to a Julius Baer Group survey which was released on Tuesday.

The Swiss bank analyzed Asian cross-city differences in parental aspirations for their children's education. Close to 830 affluent parents in Hong Kong, on the Chinese mainland (Shanghai and Beijing), and in Mumbai and Singapore were interviewed.

The highest ambition for their children was voiced by mainland and Indian parents. More than 70 percent of those parents expect their child will achieve a master's level or above.

More Hong Kong and Singapore parents said they would be satisfied with bachelor's degrees for their children.

Julius Baer also asked parents where they wanted their children to study, in terms of local versus overseas universities.

Mainland (66 percent) and Indian (74 percent) parents recorded a strong preference for their children going to foreign universities. Singapore was just the opposite, with a strong local preference (64 percent).