Southeast Asian Education in Modern History: Schools, Manipulation, and Contest

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How particular has Southeast Asia’s experience of educational development been, and has this led to an identifiably distinct Southeast Asian approach to the provision of education? Inquiry　into these questions has significant consequences for our understanding of the current state of education in Southeast Asia and the challenges it has inherited. This book contributes to a better understanding of the experience of educational development in Southeast Asia by presenting a collection of micro-historical studies on the subject of education, policy and practice in the region from the emergence of modern education to the end of the twentieth century. The chapters fathom the extent to which contest over educational content in schools has occurred and establish the socio-cultural, political and economic bases upon which these contestations have taken place and the ways in which those forces have played out in the classrooms. In doing so, the book conveys a sense of the extent to which modern forms of education have been both facilitated and shaped by the region’s specific configurations; its unique demographic, religious, social, environmental, economic and political context. Conversely, they also provide examples of the sorts of obstacles that have prevented education making as full an impact on the region’s recent 'modern' transformation as might have been hoped or expected. This book will be of interest to academics in the field of Southeast Asian Studies, Asian Studies, education, nationalism, and history. Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents List of illustrations List of contributors Introduction Notes References 1. Myanma identity and the shifting value of the classical past: A case study of King Kyansittha in Burmese history textbooks, 1829–2017 Kyansittha as a universal monarch in the Myakan inscription Kyansittha as a myanma king in the Glass Palace Chronicle Kyansittha as a Burman imperialist in colonial textbooks Kyansittha as a myanma unifier in nationalist textbooks Kyansittha as a myanma socialist in the BSPP curriculum Kyansittha as a Myanmar patriot in SPDC textbooks The ongoing transformation of Kyansittha and myanma identity Notes References 2. The legend of the ‘lost book’ and the value of education among the Karen people in Myanmar and Thailand The Karen The legend of the lost book The Karen and modern schooling in Myanmar Concluding remarks References 3. The Modernisation of Female Education and the Emergence of Class Conflict Between Literate Groups of Women in Siam 1870–1910 Introduction Female education in Siam: Early-modern stage of the latter half of the nineteenth century Education for aristocratic women: Fai nai (inner palace) Education for ‘common’ women Kunlasatri Wang Lang: The rival missionary girls’ school Royal elite female initiative in the modernisation of female education Traditional elites and Sunanthalai/Rajini Girls’ School The consequential bifurcation of the elite The decline of the aristocratic elites The rise of non-aristocratic elite women of Kunlasatri Wang Lang Conclusion Note References 4. Thailand’s Early Adult Education in Textbooks: Inclusion, Exclusion and Literacy, 1940–1944 Introduction (1940–44) Phibun and the formation of adult education Reforming the Thai language Analysing adult textbooks in the early 1940s The cultivation of the nation-state-based assimilation in adult textbooks Race and culture Maps and annexed areas Historical narrative regarding a great king National values defined: the Rathaniyom A notable absence in adult textbooks: Buddhism Conclusion Notes References 5. Contesting ‘Chinese’ Education: Schooling in the Kuomintang Chinese Diaspora in Northern Thailand, 1975–2015 Contextualising Kuomintang Chinese communities in Northern Thailand KMT schooling and education in Northern Thailand 1970–1980 Schooling and education of Kuomintang Chinese communities after the 1990s Imagining Kuomintang Chinese identities in Northern Thailand Conclusion References Non-English language sources 6. Vocational Education, Shoemaking, and the Emergence of a ‘National’ Economy in Thailand 1895–1973 Education in Thailand The early conception of vocational education and the fears of mismatch The decline of traditional crafts State-sponsored vocational education emerges Footwear Chinese shoemaking The contribution of American missionaries The absolute monarchy period The creation of the Leatherwork School Post-war import substitution-driven vocational education Concluding remarks Notes References 7. Vần quốc ngữ: Teaching Modernity through Classics: Women’s Education in Colonial Vietnam Women’s traditional education in Vietnam Education in French Indochina The first modern schools and first schools for girls Education reforms and the Franco-Annamite education system The curriculum at the Franco-Annamite schools for girls Textbooks and study materials The textbook Vần quốc ngữ Conclusion Notes References 8. Tinkering your way to prosperity: Technical education, auto-mechanics and entrepreneurship in late-colonial Vietnam Background of the schools Problems with the schools Ensuring the supply of technological know-how Absconders Practical education, technological know-how and the market in automobiles Conclusion Notes References 9. Despite Education: Malaysian Nationhood and Economic Development 1874–1970 The slow implementation of a segmented and coerced educational system under British Malaya (1874–1957) The contradictory principles that presided over the education of the population in British Malaya Towards a fragmented and incoherent system fraught with contradictory tensions The Malays The Indians The Chinese The education of girls The results of colonial-era education efforts The first national educational policies and the perpetuation of income inequalities through education, 1957–1970 The development of secondary education and the question of the teaching medium The embryonic state of higher education Public education spending Coherencies within the system and the reproduction of a highly inegalitarian post-colonial society Conclusion Notes References 10. Full colour illustrations: Presentations of race in Singapore’s history textbooks, 1965–2000 Introduction Separation and anxiety: 1965–1980 Rehabilitating history: 1980–1990 Personalising the narrative: 1990–2000 Continuities Conclusion Notes References 11. State and Islamic Education Growing into Each Other in Indonesia Introduction Two separate systems Islamic schools adopt new forms and content State schools add religious subjects The Suharto era: Convergence Islamic and state education today Conclusion Notes References 12. American Education in the Philippines and Filipino Values The history of American education in the Philippines Filipino values Filipino values versus individualism Conclusion Notes References Index