Over the past few decades, interest in juxtaposition of China and India has

heightened and comparative analyses have been made in several domains. In this

book, we focus on understanding the contexts of primary-school teaching and

learning in these two countries. This chapter explains why comparisons between

China and India are inevitable and significant in the broader global context and

situate the approach taken in our study of teaching and learning in each context.

Subsequent chapters focus specifically on contrasts between the two countries in

terms of educational policies, processes and practices, perspectives on education,

and views on educational reform.