Equity in Excellence

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xii

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2. Equity and Excellence in East Asian High-Performing Education Systems – A Paradoxical Relationship?

   • Siao See Teng, Maria Manzon, Kenneth K. Poon

   Pages 1-9

3. The Pursuit of Equity in Excellence in East Asia

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 11-11

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   2. Towards East Asian Dialogue: Thinking Through the Policy Contradictions of Equity and Excellence in East Asian Education

      • Keita Takayama

      Pages 13-26

   3. Education Reform in Shanghai in the Era of Globalisation: Towards a Balanced and Innovative System?

      • Zhiyong Zhu, Meng Deng

      Pages 27-41

   4. How Taiwan Education Pursues Equity in Excellence

      • Chuing Prudence Chou

      Pages 43-54

   5. Hong Kong’s Journey Toward Equity in the Era of Appropriate Education for All

      • Kim Fong Poon-Mcbrayer

      Pages 55-70

   6. Rethinking Equality and Equity in Multicultural Education in a Diversified Society: The Case of Language Education for Newcomer Students in Japan

      • Miki Sugimura

      Pages 71-85

   7. ‘Bridges and Ladders’: The Paradox of Equity in Excellence in Singapore Schools

      • Dennis Kwek, Rifhan Miller, Maria Manzon

      Pages 87-108

4. Striving for Equity in Excellence: The Singapore Experience

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 109-109

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   2. Equity and Meritocracy in Singapore

      • Jason Tan

      Pages 111-125

   3. Diversity and Equity in Singapore Education: Parental Involvement in Low-Income Families with Migrant Mothers

      • Siao See Teng

      Pages 127-147

   4. Policies and Initiatives for Preschool Children from Disadvantaged Environments and Preschool Children with Disabilities in Singapore

      • Kenneth K. Poon

      Pages 149-159

   5. Helping Children with Mathematical Difficulties Level Up: Evaluating the Efficacy of a Novel Updating Training Programme

      • Su Yin Ang, Kerry Lee, Kenneth K. Poon, Imelda Suryadarma

      Pages 161-181

   6. Early Intervention of Malay Preschool Teachers in Promoting Children’s Mathematics Learning

      • Pamela Sharpe, Sirene Lim

      Pages 183-198

This book offers a comprehensive picture of high-performing East Asian education systems, beyond their outstanding achievements in international assessments, such as PISA and TIMSS. Situating “excellence” within discussions of “equity”, it contextualises the conceptions and pursuits of equity amid the development of education systems, policy and curricula in selected East Asian societies. While parallels could be observed across the systems, including high-stakes assessment culture, increasing credentialism and high investment of family educational resources, there are also divergences in approaches and outcomes relating to equity policies and practices. In light of the challenges presented by low fertility rates, ageing populations, migration, and the economic demands of the 21st century, the book addresses these systems’ attempts to cater to further diversified student populations and maintain equity in excellence. As the international community relentlessly seeks to enhance equity in education, there is much these East Asian education systems can share. This book has appeal internationally to researchers, policymakers, educators, and anyone interested in East Asian education and equity.  

• Achievement gap
• Asian educational systems
• Children’s Mathematics Learning
• Early Intervention
• Education for All
• Educational inequality
• Equity in excellence
• Low Achieving Students
• disadvantaged children in Singapore
• high performing school

• National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

  Siao See Teng, Kenneth K. Poon

• Department of International Education and Lifelong Learning, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

  Maria Manzon

Siao See Teng is Research Scientist at the Centre for Research in Pedagogy and Practice, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University. Trained as a sociologist, she has taught and researched at education institutions in and beyond Singapore. Her research centres on diversity and equity in education and education trajectories, informed by sociological and comparative perspectives. The funded projects she has led/is leading include areas such as education issues in low-income families with migrant mothers, parents’ perception of schooling in Singapore, and youths’ intercultural experiences and diversity education. She previously served as Executive Editor for the Springer Education Innovation series. 


Maria Manzon is Assistant Professor in the Department of International Education and Lifelong Learning at the Education University of Hong Kong. Her research and publications focus on comparative education history, theory andmethods, and on parent engagement in Asian contexts, using philosophical and sociological perspectives. She is Associate Editor of the Asia Pacific Journal of Education and Editor of CIEclopedia. Previously, she worked at the National Institute of Education in Singapore as Research Scientist. She is Board Member of the Comparative Education Society of Asia (CESA).

Kenneth Poon is Associate Professor at the Early Childhood and Special Needs Education Academic Group at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University. He concurrently serves as Associate Dean (Education Research) at the Office of Education Research, and as Centre Co-Director of the Centre for Research in Child Development. He has led/is leading over S$6 million worth of research projects, with research mainly focusing on the developmental psychopathology of children with risk and those with neurodevelopmental disabilities. He also serves on editorial boards of several journals, on several charity boards, and on advisory panels to the government. 

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