Chiong, C. and Dimmock, C. (2020) Building trust: how low-income parents navigate neoliberalism in Singapore’s education system. Comparative Education, 56(3), pp. 394-408. (doi: 10.1080/03050068.2020.1724487) (PMID:33007838) (PMCID:PMC7601534)
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Abstract
Singapore is described as a hybrid neoliberal-developmental state. While politicians have, since the city-state’s independence, exercised ‘strong’ ideological leadership over Singapore’s economy and society, including education – there are simultaneously aspects of ‘neoliberal’ logics in Singapore’s education system: extensive school choice and streaming, academic competition and the self-responsibilising meritocratic ethos. Literature on the nature and effects of neoliberalism typically depicts rising inequalities and families’ growing anxieties, due to competition and self-responsibilisation. Drawing on in-depth interviews, this article explores how a group of low-income Malay parents navigate two aspects of institutionalised neoliberalism: (1) responsibilisation of young people within a meritocratic regime, (2) responsibilisation of parents as stakeholders in an increasingly complex education landscape. We find that while families internalise responsibilisation – profound trust in the state remains. Empirical particularities are drawn upon to understand how a socio-politically-constituted ‘architecture of trust’ between state and low-income parents is built, and its implications on families’ lives.
Item Type: | Articles |
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Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Dimmock, Professor Clive |
Authors: | Chiong, C., and Dimmock, C. |
College/School: | College of Social Sciences > School of Education > Professional Learning and Leadership College of Social Sciences > School of Education > Educational Leadership & Policy |
Journal Name: | Comparative Education |
Publisher: | Taylor & Francis |
ISSN: | 0305-0068 |
ISSN (Online): | 1360-0486 |
Published Online: | 03 February 2020 |
Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2020 Informa UK Limited |
First Published: | First published in Comparative Education 56(3): 394-408 |
Publisher Policy: | Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy |
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