Meaning and role of early childhood education amid global changes and local challenges: A double standard experienced in Hong Kong since 1980s to 2018

Early childhood education in Hong Kong has experienced drastic changes since 1982 following the criticism made by the Llewellyn visiting panel and a western style play-based curriculum was recommended. The Curriculum Development Council in 2006 stated that curriculum development is a continuing process of renewals that should devetail with the development of education system globally. The curriculum renewal, however, has been based on continuous fostering the play-based approach of the 1980s, despite that in the Western world, there have been calls for a reversion to the traditional teacher-centered education paradigm in recent years. Is there a double standard in designing curriculum in this respect? Copyright © 2018 CESHK.