Dilemmas of leading national curriculum reform in a global era: A Chinese perspective

Yin, Hongbiao; Lee, John Chi-Kin; Wang, Wenlan

Abstract: Since the mid-1980s, a global resurgence of large-scale reform in the field of education has been witnessed. Implementing these reforms has created many dilemmas for change leaders. Following a three-year qualitative research project, the present study explores the dilemmas leaders faced during the implementation of the national curriculum reform of senior secondary education in mainland China. The results indicate that those leading the changes of the curriculum reform were placed in a ‘trilemma’ arising from three conflicting cultural values, namely compliance culture, examination culture, and the new pedagogic culture advocated by the reform. These dilemmas stem from local adaptations in response to global reform trends. Finally, the implications for managing dilemmas in change leadership resulting from the present study are put forward.

Key words: change leadership; curriculum reform; Globalization; leadership dilemma; mainland China

总结：自从80年代中期，一个全球性的复苏已经见证了教育领域的大规模改革。实施这些改革创造了许多难题变革的领导者。经过三年的研究项目，本研究探讨的是在中国大陆高中教育的国家课程改革的实施过程中所面临的困境。结果表明，那些引领课程改革的变化被安置在三个相互冲突的文化价值，即合规文化，考试文化，新的教学文化的改革主张而出现的“三元悖论”。这写困境由当地适应转为对全球改革的发展趋势的应对。最后，提出了变革的领导应从本研究的管理困境的影响中得到。

来源:Educational Management Administration & Leadership. Mar2014, Vol. 42 Issue 2, p293-311. 19p.