Critical Studies in Singapore Education ― Unfolding History, Culture and Politics

For a small city-state with a relatively short history, Singapore has remarkably put in place a robust education system that is increasingly looked upon as a ‘model’. But education models do not emerge out of a clean slate; they have their chequered histories and are inevitably constantly under revision because of volatile social, cultural, economic and political conditions. This edited volume re-examines Singapore’s educational history and draws together fresh accounts of the many facets of Singapore education examined through an eclectic theoretical scholarship, methodological and empirical explorations to shed critical insights on a whole range of education issues that will also resonate with other education systems. This book, being the first such ambitious attempt on Singapore education studies, is bold, provocative and critical, carving out a fresh research space about the ideological role of Singapore education and attendant politics, and its place in nation building.

Aaron Koh is Associate Professor at the National Institute of Education, Singapore. He previously taught at Monash University and the Hong Kong Institute of Education. His research interests are Globalization and Education, Sociology of Education, and Cultural Studies in Education.

Jason Tan is Associate Professor in Policy and Leadership Studies at the National Institute of Education, Singapore. He completed his Masters in Education in Education and National Development at the University of Hong Kong and his doctoral studies in Comparative Education at the State University of New York at Buffalo.