Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book aims to expand existing conceptualizations of multicultural education and to elaborate perspectives of multicultural education, which can be applied to understanding multicultural education issues in Asia Pacific. It provides a number of important ideas and concepts in discussing noncentric knowledge and curriculum in Asia from the lens of intercultural education. The book looks at the Singapore government's approach toward multicultural citizenship education. It suggests that intercultural education promoting dialogical encounters across the groups is critical, apart from "moral and national education" proposed by the Hong Kong government. The book contributes to filling a research gap about curricular issues in multicultural education in the Mekong region – Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand. It also provides useful and updated information about multicultural education in the context of Indonesia.