Navigating challenges: a critical examination of school-based curriculum development in Hong Kong

Background School-based curriculum development (SBCD) has gained prominence as a strategy for decentralizing curriculum decision-making in Asian societies including Hong Kong in recent decades. This shift has prompted a growing body of SBCD research within Asian settings. However, much of the existing research falls short in providing in-depth theoretical analyses and in shedding light on the contextual dynamics influencing SBCD implementation. Additionally, previous studies tend to heavily rely on case studies, limiting a comprehensive understanding of how and why SBCD works or does not work in different settings.Aim and Method This paper addresses these gaps by critically examining SBCD implementation in Hong Kong through an amended analytical lens of change implementation comprising policy, people and place dimensions.Findings By exploring the factors that influence SBCD reform in Hong Kong, this study not only identifies what hinders the effectiveness of SBCD implementation but also delves into how and why the underlying interconnected factors contribute to the challenges in implementation, with relevance for similar contexts.Conclusion This proposed framework thus provides valuable theoretical and practical insights that enhance our understanding of the complexity of multifarious factors affecting SBCD implementation and offers a critical lens for researchers and policymakers to navigate the complexities and dynamics of educational change.