Educational Change and Development in the Asia-Pacific Region

The past twenty years have seen abundant changes in education in many parts of the world. Some of the reform efforts, such as those in North America and Europe, are well documented. However, there has been an equally strong movement towards reform in Asia and the Pacific region, and this is not nearly as widely known. This book intends to redress the balance, by demonstrating clearly that the search for improvement in the area of student achievement is a world-wide search. It also shows that many of the strategies and achievements adopted in the West do not and cannot apply in countries that are still struggling to ensure that every student gets to go to school. This book contains eleven reports from countries in the Asia-Pacific region that identify a diversity of critical issues, policy responses, and practical applications, all of which are aimed at improving the quality of education. The chapters throw into relief the fact that the concerns for quality, equity and continuous improvement that are evident in Western nations are also of crucial concern to those in Asia and the Pacific region. The book concludes with a chapter identifying some of the critical issues that must still be addressed if the twin aims of quality and equity are to be achieved. This book is essential reading for all educational researchers, practitioners and policy makers throughout the world.