1st Edition

The Routledge International Handbook of Life and Values Education in Asia

Edited By John Chi-Kin Lee, Kerry J Kennedy Copyright 2024
    650 Pages 32 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    This Handbook provides a comprehensive look at the educational scope of life and values that characterize 21st-century Asia, as well as those values shared across cultures.

    Some values are deeply resonant with the region’s past while others reflect modernity and the new contexts in which Asian societies find themselves. Exploring these values of different types and the way they are constructed in Eastern and Western contexts, the contributors delve into the diversity of religious, moral and social education to promote greater understanding across cultures. While a range of values is identified here, there is no single set of values that can be applied to all people in all contexts. The time has long gone, even for single societies, when values can be imposed. Yet this Handbook emphasizes both the extent and importance of values to individuals and their societies—how they respond to these values may provide the key to better and more caring societies and to better lives for all.

    Academics and teachers will find this Handbook resourceful because it raises important theoretical issues related to social values and their formation in distinctive contexts and provides novel insights into the diverse educational landscape in Asia. Policymakers and educators will also find this text helpful in learning to think about new ways to improve the quality of people’s lives.

    1. Searching for Peace and Harmony in a Troubled World: Life and Values Education in Asia

    Introducing the Handbook

    John Chi-Kin Lee and Kerry J Kennedy

    Section 1: Asian Contexts for Life and Values Education

    2. Section Overview:  Asia:  Diverse contexts, multiple values

    Kerry J Kennedy and John Chi-Kin Lee

    3. Contexts and orientations in life education 

    Zhenzhou Zhao and John Chi-Kin Lee

    4. Virtues in education East and West: Virtue ethics, care ethics and Confucianism

    Liz Jackson

    5. A philosophy for children approach to cultivation of humility in Confucian contexts.

    Chi Ming Lam

    6. Responding to diversity: Values and education for a pluralistic state

    Sjamsi Pasandaran, Dasim Budimansyah and Theodorus Pangalila

    Section 2: Religions and Religious Education

    7. Section Overview: Religious diversity in multiple contexts

    Zhenzhou Zhao

    8. Conspicuous morality and hidden religiosity of the Confucian education revival in contemporary China

    Canglong Wang 

    9. Daoist knowledge and ‘perfect-person’ education.

    Dang Jiang 

    10. Rethinking Islamic education in Muslim modernist discourse

    Nazim Aman Hunzai and Karim Aman

    11. Marxism and religious education in China

    Yuhao Deng and Zhenzhou Zhao

     

    Section 3: Life and Values Education in Greater China

    12. Section Overview: Life and values education in Greater China

    John Chi-Kin Lee & Stephen Yip

    13. Life and Values Education in Mainland China

    Zhenzhou Zhao, John Chi-Kin Lee and Chuanbao Tan

    14. Life and Values Education in Taiwan China –

    Lucia Shih-ling Lin , John Chi-Kin Lee

    15. Life and Values Education in Hong Kong

    John Chi-Kin Lee,  Stephen Yam-wing Yip and Suria Suet Yee Kong

    16. Career and Life Development in Greater China: A Hong Kong Case that Brings East and West Together

    Stephen Yip, John Holman and Chi Ming Lam

     

    Section 4: Moral Education

    17. Section Overview: Moral education, ethical principles and character

    Charlene Tan

    18. Christianity and moral education in Asia

    Charlene Tan 

    19. The opportunities and challenges of Chinese ethical criticism and its implications for moral education 

    Suzanne Choo 

    20. Integrating law-abiding awareness into moral education in Hong Kong

    Vincent Wong

    21. Cultivating moral values in Singapore's early childhood landscape: Who, what and how?

    Sandra Wu 

    Section 5: Citizenship Education 

    22. Section Overview:Citizenship education, global citizenship education and multicultural education

    Linnie Koon Lin Wong

    23. Citizenship education discourse in Mainland Chinese discourse (2000-2020)

    Hui Li

    24. Preparing younger generations for a global future: Reorienting citizenship education in Pakistan.

    Shahid Karim 

    25. Multicultural education in Indonesia – Reflections, concepts and constructions 

    Theodorus Pingalila

    26. Schooling and parenting citizenship: Parents’ views on citizenship education in Kazakhstan

    Kuralay Bozymnekova 

    Section 6: Global Citizenship Education

    27. Section Overview: Global citizenship education:  Perspectives from Asia  

    Eric Chong

    28. Teaching beyond resilience: Pedagogies for critical global citizenship in the Philippines- 

    Theresa Alviar and Nino Leviste

    29. What kind of global citizenship for Japanese higher education?  Five ethical priorities

    Emiliano Bosi

    30. Global citizenship education in Western Asia: The Case of  the Gulf Cooperation Council Nations

    Mark Baildon and Ghadah Hassan Mohamed S. Al Abd Morshedi

    31.The contested terrain of global citizenship education in postcolonial India

    Mousumi Mukherjee

    32. Global citizenship education in Indonesia: A millennial volunteerism practice to affirm civic virtue

    Dasim Budimansyah and Muhammad Mona Adha

    Section 7: Positive Education 

    33. Section Overview: Positive education in Asia

    Kevin Chan

    34. The influence of gratitude on students’ interpersonal relationships, school resilience, and school well-being: Insights from Asian education contexts.

    Imelda Caleon 

    35. The impact of grit on Chinese students’ achievement motivation, academic achievement, and subjective well-being

    Chen Chen

    36. Positive futures: Locus-of-hope and positive education in Asia

    Sixtus Dane A. Ramos, Angela Lorraine P. Cunanan and Allan B. I. Bernardo

    37. Promoting character strengths in the early childhood setting: A scoping review

    Hades C.M. Ho

    38. Character strength-based interventions in educational settings: Promoting Chinese students’ mental well-being

    Wenjie Duan, Ke Huang and Hui Zhou

    Section 8: Character Education  

    39. Section Overview: Framing and reflections on character education in  Asia  

    Andrew Peterson   

    40. Virtues and the aim of Japanese character education

    Koji Tachibana

    41. Character education in Taiwan -Transformation of character and moral education during Taiwan’s transition from authoritarianism to democracy: Challenges and possibilities

    Angel Chi-Ming Lee

    42. Integrating citizenship education and character education through the framework of global citizenship : The South Korean case

    Hyungryeol Kim 

     

    Section 9: Spirituality Education 

    43. Section Overview:  Spirituality education as engagement with life

    Kerry J Kennedy   

    44. Struggling to fit it all in: Sense of hope, life meaning and satisfaction of low-income single mothers of young children with special needs in New Zealand 

    Kaili Zhang and Qin Li

    45. Spiritual education, local wisdom, and wellbeing in Bhutan -  What it means for young people

    Kunzang Chophel, Sue Erica Smith, Jon Mason and Ann Moir-Buss

    46. Spiritual education in Islam: An overview of the Ismaʿīli  concept of Taʿlīm- The teaching of the infallible Imam

    Nazim Aman Hunzai

    47. Implementing contemplative education for enhancing spirituality in Hong Kong schools

    Elsa Ngar Sze Lau

    Section 10: Education for Sustainability in Asia

    48. Section Overview: Environmental education for schools and beyond

    Kerry J Kennedy and John Chi-Kin Lee

    49. Education for sustainability in Japan: Progress and way forward,

    Tomonori Ichinos 

    50. A case study on the implementation of problem and project-lased Learning (PBL) in Chinese environmental sustainable development curricula

    Ying Peng and Jingling Liu

    51. An account of environmental education in Hong Kong  - The role of non-formal and informal education

    Chi Chiu Cheang, John Chi-Kin Lee, Eddie Sai Kit Yip and Eric Po Keung Tsang

    Section 11: Intercultural and multicultural education  

    52. Section Overview:  Intercultural and multicultural education policies and praxis in selected Asian countries

    Miron Bhowmik and Jan Gube

    53. Multicultural education in Japan: Historical legacies and ongoing challenges

    Yuka Kitayama and Yoriko Hashizaki

    54. Education beyond ethnic and religious divides: A critical analysis of education policies in Bangladeshi primary and secondary education 

    Urmee Chakma and Bingqing Li

    55. The past, present, and future of multicultural education in Thailand: An intersectionality perspective

    Nannaphat Saenghong,   

    56. Multicultural education for “ethnic minorities” or all students? Values and responses to diversity in Hong Kong

    Jan Gube and Miron Bhowmik

    57. Unity in Diversity! The problematic of multicultural education in postcolonial India

    Mousumi Mukherjee

     

    Section 12: Peace Education 

    58. Section Overview: Peace education in Asia

    Norio Ikeno

    59. "No More Wars": Peace education in Japan

    Kim Jongsung, Hiromi Kawaguchi and Kazuhiro Kusahara  

    60. Peace education in Korea

    Jung-hi Lee 

    61. The idea and practice of peace education in China

    Muyu Huang and Liu Cheng 

    62. Peace-loving and anti-violence in educational institutions: Character education through peace in Indonesia.

    Mardan Umar, Theodorus Pangalila and Feiby Ismail

    Biography

    John Chi-Kin Lee is President of the Education University of Hong Kong. He is also UNESCO Chair in Regional Education Development and Lifelong Learning and Chair Professor of Curriculum and Instruction. He is the Editor of International Journal of Children’s Spirituality, Executive Editor of Teachers and Teaching and Education Research and Evaluation as well as Co-Editor for the Routledge Series on Life and Values Education.

    Kerry J  Kennedy is Professor Emeritus, Advisor (Academic Development) at the Education University of Hong Kong. He is also a Distinguished Visiting Professor at the University of Johannesburg and Editor of Routledge’s Schools and Schooling in Asia Series, the Asia Europe Education Dialogue Series, the Perspectives on Education in Africa Series and Springer’s Civic and Citizenship Education in the 21st Century Series.

    “In a world increasingly fraught with conflict and division, “THE ROUTLEDGE INTERNATIONAL HANDBOOK ON LIFE AND VALUES EDUCATION IN ASIA" offers a beacon of hope and inspiration. This timely manuscript, edited by John Chi-Kin Lee and Kerry Kennedy, delves into the rich tapestry of life and values across and beyond Asia to explores how they can serve as a foundation for a more peaceful and harmonious future.

    The significance of value education, particularly in the context of Asia's diverse cultural heritage, cannot be overstated.  Vibrant ancient philosophies and modern values have long emphasized the important themes like ethical conduct, character education, and respect for nature. These values provide a strong life and value compass that can guide individuals and societies towards a more sustainable and equitable world.

    Lee and Kennedy astutely recognize that peace and harmony in Asia cannot be achieved solely through political and economic cooperation. It requires a deeper understanding and appreciation of the shared cultural and spiritual values that bind the region together. By nurturing a sense of shared humanity and fostering respect for diversity, value education can play a vital role in building a more peaceful and mutually beneficial future.

    Meanwhile, the book goes beyond simply advocating for a return to traditional values. It also recognizes the need to reimagine our futures together, incorporating the principles of inclusion, multiculturalism, and sustainable development education. This requires an open and continuous dialogue that engages diverse voices and perspectives, allowing us to collectively envision a future that is both ecologically sustainable and socially equitable.

    This handbook is a powerful and timely contribution to the discourse on education and its role in building a shared, sustainable future. It is a must-read for anyone concerned about the future of our planet and the well-being of its people. This book offers a compelling argument for why value education is not just a luxury, but a necessity for creating a peaceful and harmonious future that leaving no one behind.”

    Professor Shahbaz Khan, Director for UNESCO Regional Office in East Asia

     

    “The Handbook on Life and Values Education in Asia, meticulously compiled by Drs. John Chi-Kin Lee and Kerry J. Kennedy, is a groundbreaking and timely publication that presents a thorough and detailed examination of this vital area of education. Comprising 12 comprehensive sections and 62 insightful chapters, this compilation reflects the collaborative efforts of numerous esteemed authors, collectively offering an essential resource for educators, scholars, and policymakers in Asia and beyond. Delving into critical themes, ranging from Asian Contexts for Life and Values Education to Peace Education, the Handbook provides a comprehensive and nuanced exploration of the diverse approaches to life and values education that are essential for navigating the complexities of our world in the region. The handbook is notable for its extensive coverage, thorough analysis, and focus on practical implementation. It offers an extensive and intricate analysis of the field by addressing both the distinctiveness and diversity of Asia. Additionally, it goes beyond theoretical concepts to offer practical strategies for achieving a sustainable and peaceful future. This influential work enhances our knowledge of education and provides guidance for promoting harmony, understanding, and lasting peace in Asia and other regions.”

    Professor Kyung Hwan Mo, Chair, Department of Social Studies Education and Director, Centre for Multicultural Education Research, Seoul National University

    A very important handbook for students, teachers, and administrators. Dr. John Chi-Kin Lee and Dr. Kerry J. Kennedy have gathered the best scholars and writers in the areas of character, moral, global, spiritual, and positive education with strong theoretical foundations, curricula, and strategies for applying research and knowledge in classrooms to transform schools and improve school cultures. A strength of this handbook is that each chapter addresses important values for multicultural education in a global perspective demonstrating how educators play an important role in creating peace and harmony for the minds, hearts, and spirits of students and their relationships with others. This handbook will be of wonderful use in higher education and teacher preparation programs promoting values education in Asia.

    Dr. Kathleen I. Harris, Dean, School of Education and Applied Social Sciences, Professor of Education, Seton Hill University