Achieving Excellence and Equity with Harmony between East and West Minxuan ZHANG NPM of Shanghai PISA, Deputy Director-General of Shanghai Municipal Education Commission Shengli ZHAN Research Associate Fellow of Shanghai PISA Center, Post-doc Fellow of the University of Hong Kong June Strong Performers and Successful Reformers 2011 OECD-Japan Seminar

Main Content Context: education goads in a flat world Case of Shanghai: benefitting from both learning from West and inheriting Chinese tradition Challenges for Shanghai education system Conclusion: future prospects

The World is (becoming) Flat!

Education Goals in a Flat World Local diversity and multi-culture? Global standards? International experience? All-round person development? … Main Goal: Equity and Quality/Excellence (OECD, 2000; OECD, 2010)

Goal 1: Equity Inclusive education for all students regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, family background, and etc. al. life-long learning education suitable for each students i.e. what Confucian said as teach each student in accordance with his/her aptitude ( )

Goal 2: Quality/Excellence All students reach the minimum standard (such as at least reaching level 2 in PISA) All students have opportunities and space to further develop their potentials and their characteristics Try best to resist mediocrity

Case of Shanghai Learning from the outside world/West Inheriting Chinese Culture

Learning from the World/West (1) Shanghai is an international city with a long history of connecting to the world since late 1800s.

Learning from the World/West (2) Open-door policies and reforms in various aspects > economic reforms > social change …

Shanghais per capita GDP ( ) Source: sh.gov.cn/2003shtj/tjnj/nj10.htm?d1=2010tjnj/C0305.htmhttp:// sh.gov.cn/2003shtj/tjnj/nj10.htm?d1=2010tjnj/C0305.htm

Learning from the World/West (3) Educational reforms based on comparative study of education in other countries and regions > educational policy formation based on comparative education study > sending students, professors, teachers and principals abroad to study > collaboration with overseas universities and schools

Participating PISA as a learning process (Zhang, 2011) To know the quality and equity of Shanghai Education in global comparison. To learn the evaluation technical approaches and to see the shortcomings, problems and even blindness in basic education in Shanghai To learn to improve policies on the base of data, evidence and research To keep learning the successful experience from other countries for the educational reforms and development in Shanghai

Inheriting Chinese Tradition (1) High expectation on education at both parent/family and national levels > high expectation of parents with their childrens education and future > input from government on education

Governments financial budget for education and its increases ( ) Source: Shanghai Municipal Education Commission. Shanghai Education Yearbook Shanghai: Shanghai Educational Publishing House.

Inheriting Chinese Tradition (2) Diligence and hard-work in studying make difference and changes > old saying as Diligence redeems stupidity > ancient stories ( ) > Implication for Thomas Al. Edisons success: Genius = 1% inspiration + 99% perspiration

Inheriting Chinese Tradition (3) Consideration of teachers and teaching in schools > organization of teaching study group at Municipal, district and school levels > school-based professional development for in-service teachers

Challenges for Shanghai education system Reduce parents and students concern about exam. Reduce heavy study load and long learning hours for students Persist in and improve in-service training and teacher professional development Find ways, time and space for the development of students personal potential and talents Establish a new concept of evaluation and a school monitoring system with mutli-dimentioned criteria

Conclusion: future prospects Three ways to further harmonious connection between East and West > translation and adaption of western theories (Yan, 1854~1921 > Western theories for practical application with Chinese theories as base (Zhang, 1837~1909 > Chinese theories as practical application with Western theories as base Huang,, 1918~2000

Achieving Equity and Quality Find a most proper way for Life-long development of each student in Both West and East In A globalized world

Thank you!