Why context matters: a comparative perspective on education reform and policy implementation

Alma Harris*, Michelle Jones

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

57 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This article explores the significance of context within the process of contemporary education reform and policy-making. It draws upon evidence from a comparative study of educational change and transformation in seven education systems: Australia, England, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Russia, and Singapore. The article focuses on school leadership preparation, training, and development, which has become a policy priority and central improvement strategy in many education systems. The article explores how seven education systems are using this strategy to promote school and system improvement. The article reflects upon the centrality of context in the process of policy implementation and in the broader pursuit of system transformation. The article concludes that more contextually appropriate approaches to educational policy selection are needed and that borrowing approaches from other countries many bring unintended consequences and unfortunate side effects. Further, the article concludes that the process of policy implementation, in context, requires far more attention, if the intended outcomes are to be achieved.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)195-207
Number of pages13
JournalEducational Research for Policy and Practice
Volume17
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 30 Jul 2018
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Education change
  • Education reform
  • PISA
  • School improvement
  • System reform
  • Systemic change

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