Early Childhood Education Voucher in Hong Kong: Perspectives from Online Communities

Autor/inn/en	Li, Hui; Wong, Jessie Ming Sin; Wang, X. Christine
Titel	Early Childhood Education Voucher in Hong Kong: Perspectives from Online Communities
Quelle	In: International Journal of Early Childhood, 40 (2008) 2, S.49-63 (15 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0020-7187
Schlagwörter	Early Childhood Education; Foreign Countries; Educational Vouchers; Kindergarten; School Choice; Public Opinion; Computer Mediated Communication; Internet; Social Influences; Educational Policy; Policy Formation; Educational History; Hong Kong + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Early childhood; Education; Frühkindliche Bildung; Frühpädagogik; Ausland; Educational voucher; Bildungsgutschein; Choice of school; Schulwahl; Öffentliche Meinung; Computerkonferenz; Sozialer Einfluss; Politics of education; Bildungspolitik; Politische Betätigung; History of education; Bildungsgeschichte; Hongkong
Abstract	Educational authorities in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of China introduced an early childhood education voucher system in 2007 with two implicit goals: to turn profit kindergartens into non-profit ones and to curtail parental choice. This initiative has caused a great deal of controversy locally and internationally, so the development of the voucher theory and practice in the Chinese context has become an interesting case to study. To investigate public views in Hong Kong on how well this voucher scheme adapts to local needs and to the local context, we collected Internet posts and analysed all the views presented in both Chinese and English virtual communities. Content and statistical analyses were conducted on the search results, and it was found that (1) there is overwhelming support for the voucher system; and (2) there is a range of opposing or supporting opinions and rationales on the two implicit goals. Based on the results, this unique Hong Kong voucher scheme is judged to be a rationally localised development of the voucher theory. The sociocontextual factors that shape the policy-making process are discussed, and the implications of this policy beyond Hong Kong and the field of ECE are also addressed. (Contains 4 footnotes.) (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	OMEP: Organisation Mondiale pour l'Education Prescolaire. Goteborg University, Department of Education, Box 300, Goteborg, SE-40530, Sweden. Tel: +46-317-732461; Fax: +46-317-732391; Web site: http://www.ped.gu.se/users/pramling/ijec/index.html
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10