Building trust: how low-income parents navigate neoliberalism in Singapore’s education system

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
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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