Public Education Reform and Network Governance

Lessons From Chinese State-Owned Enterprise Schools

Philip Wing Keung Chan author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd

Published:30th Sep '20

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Public Education Reform and Network Governance cover

This book is located in the field of education governance and sits amidst debates on public school reform in China. It examines how a top-down policy approach has been implemented from central government right down to the district level within the public education system in China. It shows the way networks support negotiation and bargaining at the district level which, in turn, influences the broader education policy of the central government.

Using statistical data from education yearbooks, government documents analysis and interviews with main stakeholders in this policy arena, the book incorporates case studies from railway State-Owned Enterprise schools. Analysis of these indicates that the processes of formulating and implementing Chinese education policy can be characterised as a form of network governance, which coordinates actors, decision-making processes and stakeholders’ motivation to comply with collective decisions in Chinese education. Network governance acts as an effective and legitimate way of problem solving that assists policy implementation and education reform in China.

By comparing two traditional modes of governance (governance through bureaucracy and the governance through markets), this book shows the network mode of governance in Chinese education is more powerful and significant, especially since the negotiated results among actors in the policy community are favourable.

The book unravels the intricacies and complexities present in the different modes of network governance in China’s seemingly centralised education system.

Hairon Salleh, National Institute of Education, Singapore

Chan’s book is an essential text for anyone interested in contemporary issues in Chinese education policy, particularly, the role of network governance and its impact on education reform in China. It is sorely overdue.

Daniel Ness, St. John's University, USA

ISBN: 9780367660871

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 360g

180 pages