Curriculum Reform as 'Soft' Policy Implementation: Theorising Curriculum Reform Processes and Understanding Curriculum as Text

The importance of curriculum implementation is often undervalued as a simple school level issue. Yet governments across the Asia Pacific region have invested considerable resources in curriculum from being overly academic, competitive, elitist, exam dominated and bureaucratic to one that is relevant and meaningful to both society and individuals, inclusive of the needs of all students and geared to assisting students become creative, innovative and critical, problem solvers. In this sense, the social value of the curriculum, and hence its successful implementation, cannot be overstimated at a time of immense change and uncertainry in the region. The current study, therefore, while concerned with issues of educational theory and practice, is also concerned to enhance the social value of the school curriculum.

Funding Source: RGC - Competitive Earmarked Research Grant