There is constant pressure on governments and policy makers to raise the standard of education, and to develop appropriate curriculum and pedagogies for students. It is no easy task. This book presents eight specific case studies of education reform implementation which capture how the design and implementation choices of policy makers are shaped by national and historical contexts. They offer real examples of the choices and constraints faced by policymakers and practitioners. The cases are a mix of nationally and locally mandated reforms with five examples from nations where the state initiated and guided reforms. The concluding synthesis chapter highlights commonalities and differences across the cases and disparate responses to shared concerns. Providing a breadth of real-world research, it will assist policy makers, practitioners and other stakeholders interested in system change.

A collaborative series with the University of Cambridge Faculty of Education highlighting leading-edge research across Teacher Education, International Education Reform and Language Education. The Kazakhstan government has sought to radically overhaul its education system, moving from a highly centralised system to one that allows for more institutional autonomy and responsiveness at the local level. This book investigates the key reforms involved, including increasing the academic and fiscal autonomy of universities, the creation of a world-class university, and the implementation of a large-scale international scholarship programme. The case of Kazakhstan underscores the significant challenges of enacting reforms, which require new policies and structures and an entirely new set of assumptions about academic quality, the work of universities, and the role of education in society.