Journal Articles

Imagining school autonomy in high-performing education systems: East Asia as a source of policy referencing in England

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Title:
Imagining school autonomy in high-performing education systems: East Asia as a source of policy referencing in England
Authors:
- You, Yun University College London
- Morris, Paul University College London
Source:
Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education, 46(6), 882-905, 2016
Publisher:
Routledge Journals, Taylor & Francis Ltd
Year Published:
2016
Education Categories:
Keywords:
School Autonomy East Asia England Policy Borrowing Referencing PISA Success Reform Discourses Politics
Region:
- Hong Kong
- East Asia
- England
Period:
- 1997.7 onwards
Level:
- Post-Secondary Education
Abstract:
Education reform is increasingly based on emulating the features of world-class' systems that top international attainment surveys and, in England specifically, East Asia is referenced as the inspiration' for their education reforms. However, the extent to which the features identified by the UK Government accord with the situation within East Asia is problematic. This paper examines the relationship between the English representation and the reality' of East Asian education systems, using school autonomy as an illustrative example. We focus on Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai, which are cited extensively to legitimate policies providing greater autonomy for schools in England. We argue firstly that the English representation has been largely discursive and inaccurate; has failed to recognise the variations across the region; and has been selected to endorse the Government's ideological preferences. Secondly, the scope, form and nature of school autonomy vary markedly, and are operationalised in each society in ways reflecting the prevailing sociopolitical priorities.
Language:
- English
Document Type:
Journal Articles
ISSN:
- 03057925
DOI:
- 10.1080/03057925.2015.1080115
Permalink:
https://bibliography.lib.eduhk.hk/bibs/c471d680
Entry Date:
2017-03-21