Changes in School Curriculum Administration in China

Purpose —This study focuses on the establishment and evolution of the school curriculum administrative system in China. Design/Approach/Methods —Based on policy papers and documents, this paper explores changes of the concept, tradition and practices of curriculum administration in China. Findings —The curriculum administration since 1949 has developed from an “excessively centralized curriculum administration” model to a “sharing-based curriculum administration”. China's three-level curriculum administrative system, comprising a national-, local-, and school-level curriculum administration framework, is explained and analyzed. Originality/Value —This is a comprehensive scholarly review of historical changes in school curriculum administration in China. This paper also provides provocative suggestions for future development of school curriculum administration in the Chinese context.