The chronological development of parent empowerment in children's education in Hong Kong

The decentralization of the power of school governance is one of the recent trends of educational development in a global society in which the notion of parents as stakeholders and partners of state education is being gradually recognized, albeit at different paces, in several Asian countries. This paper attempts to analyze the chronological development of parent empowerment in Hong Kong. By examining the education policy documents of Hong Kong in the last three decades and looking into related debates in education reforms, the author conceptualizes five phases of development of parent empowerment which include (1) the period of absolute quiescence and acquiescence; (2) the period of wakefulness of parents’ rights and responsibilities, (3) the period of enhancing communication; (4) the period of accountability; and (5) the period of parents as partners. Copyright © 2007 Education Research Institute.