Changing Horizons in Geography Education - HERODOT Network ...

The Future of Geography and Geography Educationin Southeast Asia: Issues and ChallengesKim Chuan GohNational Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University,1, Nanyang Walk, Singapore 637616e-mail: kcgoh@nie.edu.sgAbstractSoutheast Asia has again captured world attention with the recent December 26, 2004tsunami disaster. Earlier, in 1997 it experienced a major financial crisis, followed by SARSand Avian Flu epidemics and terrorist attacks that had significantly affected the economies ofmany countries in the region. Despite these setbacks, the region is vibrant and the economyis picking up. With the strong resolve to move forward, Southeast Asia through the ASEAN(Association of Southeast Asian Nations) grouping will become more cohesive and willremain a fast growing region. Also, with greater exposure to globalisation, modernisationand wide use of ICT the region will again be a key player on the world stage.Ironically in this milieu of economies, political systems, different stages of economic developmentand diversity in languages, culture and environment, and global impact geography,which once held an important position in schools and universities in Southeast Asia, is facinga crisis. This paper discusses this crisis, in terms of issues and challenges geography is facingand in the context of systemic educational reforms that are taking place in many countriesin the region. References will be made to the position and role of geography in other regionsas lessons learned from outside could be applied to geography in Southeast Asia.Key words: Southeast Asia; geography; geography education; crisisIntroductionMy paper focuses on issues and challenges facing geography as an academic disciplinein schools and universities in the Southeast Asia. Because of the complexity ofthe region any attempt at synthesizing these themes will be inadequate; neverthelessan attempt will be made to provide an understanding of the status and future of thediscipline and research.I will draw from my own experience in Singapore, Brunei and Malaysia where,in total, I have spent some thirty years at tertiary institutions, as well as publishedmaterials and inputs from colleagues from other parts of the region that I receivedthrough correspondence and interaction at the past seven Southeast Asian Geographyconferences I helped coordinate. My paper recognises trends and developments ingeography outside the region, not only in terms of geography education per se, but ofthe broad educational reforms that are taking place in many countries throughout theworld. It is in the context of such educational reforms that we can assess the positionof geography in the educational system of the Southeast Asian countries.132