The course will initiate a sociologically informed conversation about formal education. What forces have shaped current educational practices, and how can they be improved? Does schooling perpetuate inequalities? Why do boys perform so poorly compared to girls in schools? How can ethnic minorities be better served in educational systems? What should be the role of the humanities and creativity in education? How are administrative principles of audit culture, managerialism and performance targets shaping educational institutions? To answer these questions, students will be encouraged to reflect upon their own educational experiences, as well as examine contemporary debates about education at all levels in Hong Kong, and across cultures.