Education in China: Philosophy, Politics and Culture

Education in China has played a pivotal role in the nation's governance, civic society, and social and cultural lives. Recent fundamental educational reforms have been driven by the need for continuing economic development and a highly skilled workforce, but several problems remain, including an examination-obsessed system and highly competitive culture. This accessible analysis will be a welcome resource for students of comparative education and those across the social sciences interested in Chinese society.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 29 March 2019
Publisher: Polity Press

Education in China has played a pivotal role in the nation's governance, civic society, and social and cultural lives of its citizens. Today, China is grappling with how to modernize and internationalize its education system while retaining its intellectual traditions and values in the face of growing educational inequalities. This book analyzes the historical and contemporary place of education in China and how the past has influenced today's trends. Recent fundamental educational reforms have been driven by the need for continuing economic development and a highly skilled workforce, while also fulfilling the aspirations of its citizens and their desire for prestige education. Ideological education plays a key role in enlisting citizens to the national cause.

Although China has ambitious plans for its education system, several problems remain, including an examination-obsessed system and a highly competitive culture that skew the social fabric and dominate family life and childhoods. This accessible analysis will be a welcome resource for students of comparative education and those across the social sciences interested in Chinese society.

Weight: 354g
Dimension: 149 x 210 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780745664101