Educational Reforms and School Improvement in China and Hong Kong SAR

Education and basic curriculum reforms under the notion of “quality education” and the context of decentralization have been launched since the new century in China and Hong Kong. In this chapter, the successes and the barriers of large-scale curriculum implementation in China and the basic curriculum reforms under the direction of “Learning to Learn: Lifelong learning and whole-person development” in Hong Kong (e.g., Education Commission, 2006) will be highlighted. Issues of regional disparity in educational development in the vast China and social (and including gender) inequality of schooling remain persistent challenges despite an accelerated economic growth in the recent decade. This chapter will then discuss reforms in structure and assessment as well as educational reform agenda such as school-based management, external school review, and school self-evaluation launched in the new century. Future directions for improving education in China and Hong Kong schools will then be explored.