Singapore's Barangay: Cultural resistance to neoliberal education

Abstract

HFSE International School is the only Filipino international school located in an ASEAN nation outside of the Philippines. Founded by an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) family in Singapore, this institution provides low-fee private education for more than 400 students led by 38 faculty and staff members. This paper creates meaning behind the unique cultural context of HFSE, analyzing how the city-state’s neoliberal educational landscape interacts with the school’s OFW spirit . Through interviews with 44 students, faculty, staff, and parents of HFSE, the findings revealed a school culture that contrasts the market and performance-focused classrooms of Singapore.

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