In Search for Public Space: Critical Examination of Neoliberal Education Policies in Singapore and Japan

• In Event: Roundtable Session 56
  In Roundtable Session: Rethinking Curriculum in Nation-States

Abstract

Using Hannah Arendt’s notion of natality, labor, work, action, and public space, this paper critically examines the current education policies and their influence on the construction of students in Singapore and Japan. On surface, these two nations appear to be ”successful” in the international competition of education as it is evidenced by their high rankings on PISA. However, the paper argues that their conformity to OECD”s agenda, especially the employment of neoliberal technologies in education is problematic as it has created inequity among students and has inhibited natality , action, and creation of public space in education.

Authors

• Kaoru Miyazawa, Gettysburg College

• Sirene May-Yin Lim, National Institute of Education - Nanyang Technological University