A civilizational perspective on compulsory education

This paper explores the idea of a civilizational perspective on compulsory education. It begins with an explanation of the notion of a civilizational perspective, and how it was developed for the field of comparative higher education, particularly relations between Asian higher education and the West. It then considers the relations between compulsory education and modern industrial society, and the transition now facing compulsory education in the post-industrial era. A few examples are provided to show how the Asian heritage might be drawn upon to enrich this transition and make a positive contribution to the next phase of human civilization. Copyright © 1997 Hong Kong Educational Research Association.