School Reform and Democracy in East Asia

East Asia has introduced school and curricular reform to reflect democratic citizenship and globalized skills, knowledge, and competencies in the 21st century. However, students from Japan, China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore receive the highest scores in international students' assessments, while Indonesian and Vietnamese students are likely to receive the lowest testing scores. The book investigates high academic achievement in East Asia in light of the trend towards democratization and considers controversial issues such as whether the goals of democratic education should be the attainment of high academic scores, competency-based curriculums, or meritocratic systems of academic competition. It illuminates each country's struggle to realize school reform on the basis of its social and cultural settings and looks at what connects East Asia's past, present, and future.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 196 pages
Publication date: 29 April 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive book delves into the transformative journey of East Asia in implementing school and curricular reforms to foster democratic citizenship and equip students with globalized skills, knowledge, dispositions, and competencies in the 21st century. It also explores the intriguing phenomenon of students from Japan, China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore consistently achieving high scores in international assessments like PISA and TIMSS, despite their relatively low curiosity and motivation for learning compared to their international peers. On the other hand, Indonesian and Vietnamese students, despite receiving lower testing scores, exhibit remarkable motivation for learning. The authors argue that examining the high academic achievement in East Asia in the context of democratization is crucial. They address controversial topics such as whether the primary goal of democratic education should be achieving high academic scores, the merits of implementing competency-based curriculums or meritocratic systems of academic competition, and ensuring equal opportunities for all learners within the educational community. The book provides a rich and detailed account of each country's unique challenges and successes in realizing school reform, while also shedding light on the historical, cultural, and social factors that shape East Asia's educational landscape. By examining the past, present, and future of East Asia, the book offers valuable insights into the ongoing efforts to create inclusive and equitable educational systems that prepare students for the demands of a rapidly changing globalized world.

Weight: 360g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367558130