Curriculum and School Development in Asia – serie

This open access book focuses on how to design, implement, and evaluate culturally situated pedagogies in Hong Kong kindergartens, aligned with traditional expectations, values, and norms in Asian societies. The book provides concise, accessible, yet rigorous conceptual and theoretical explanations to underpin and justify teachers’ pedagogical choices in kindergarten classrooms. The chapters examine the importance of the various learning areas included in the curriculum framework, discussing specific learning objectives, teaching methodologies, appropriate strategies for curriculum integration, and examples of class activities. Moreover, the chapters suggest practical tips for practitioners (from teachers to principals), teacher educators, and curriculum designers in Hong Kong and other societies with similar socio-cultural characteristics, such as Mainland China, Taiwan, Singapore, Japan, and Korea.

This edited book continues the calls to broaden the dialogue on multicultural education, which has long been dominated by Western Anglosphere perspectives. It critically examines how multicultural education shapes school and curriculum development across Asian education systems. The book examines concepts and evidence that demonstrate the transformative potential of multicultural education in harnessing the value of living together in diversity. It presents cases that show how schools and universities respond to the evolving but often overlooked diversity of students from different ethnic and language groups in the region. Contributors highlight the potentials and challenges embedding multicultural education principles in different Asian national and societal contexts, including the impact of these on curriculum planning, learning and teaching. Designed for academics, undergraduate and postgraduate students, educators, and practitioners, this book delivers critical insights and practical strategies for advancing equity in culturally diverse education contexts.