Title
Transforming from economic power to soft power : challenges for managing education for migrant workers' children and human capital in Chinese cities
Document Type
Journal article
Source Publication
Asia Pacific Journal of Education
Publication Date
9-1-2011
Volume
31
Issue
3
First Page
325
Last Page
344
Publisher
Routledge
Keywords
China, migrant children
Abstract
In July 2010, the State Council of the People's Republic of China published an "Outline for National Educational Development" with a strong conviction to transform China from an economic power into a country of "soft power" and "strength in human resources". In order to realize such a policy goal, the Chinese government has attempted to review its current education policies and systems to initiate reforms to promote innovation and creativity in education. One of the major reform directions is to foster more collaboration between educational institutions in Mainland China with overseas partners, including institutions from the Greater China region (Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau). Despite the noble policy goals set out by the Chinese government in asserting its soft power through the transformations to be introduced to its education systems and the proposal to engage in international collaborations, many citizens in the Mainland, especially the children of migrant (peasant) workers, are currently confronted with insufficient provision of education. This article critically examines issues confronting peasant worker children's education, with particular reference to the most recent policies and strategies adopted by the governments in Mainland China to deal with the growing educational demands from migrant workers' children. This article will also discuss policy implications for the Chinese government which has failed to deliver quality education to children of peasant workers when China is seeking to become a country strong in human resources.
DOI
10.1080/02188791.2011.594248
Print ISSN
02188791
E-ISSN
17426855
Publisher Statement
Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.
Full-text Version
Publisher’s Version
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Mok, K. H., Wong, Y. C., & Guo, Y. (2011). Transforming from economic power to soft power: Challenges for managing education for migrant workers' children and human capital in Chinese cities. Asia Pacific Journal of Education, 31(3), 325-344. doi: 10.1080/02188791.2011.594248
