Education in China: Cultural Influences, Global Perspectives and Social Challenges

Parallel to the unprecedented growth of the economy in the past 30 years, China has experienced the fastest development of its education system in its history. Despite the remarkable development and achievement in many areas, China still faces challenges in redefining its education priorities, improving the quality of education systems and education practices, and achieving education equality across its diverse population and vast geography. A group of 38 leading and emerging scholars from mainland China, Hong Kong, the United States, and Canada provided comprehensive reviews or empirical data to address a variety of core issues and key challenges in many important areas of formal and informal education in China from historical, social, cultural and global perspectives. The authors come from various academic backgrounds including economics, education, history, law, mass media, policy study, psychology, public affair administration, social work, and sociology. The topics covered by the 22 chapters in this book include early childhood education, special education, rights of children with disabilities, music education, physical education, higher education, high education equity, non-state higher education, academic capitalism, higher vocational education, rural compulsory education, compulsory education for migrant children, instructional technology, distance learning, media literacy education, teacher professional development, Chinese language education, quality education, family education, moral education, and sex education.