1. Taiwan education aspects
1.5. MOE regulation and education reforms
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English is compulsory subject within national mainstream school system from grade 3 in elementary school on up.
Foreign languages such as Korean, Vietnamese, Japanese, French, and Spanish were also added to language programs by the MOE. Since 1999 to encourage student to learn a second language the MOE launch a Five-Year Program to Promote the Teaching of a Second Foreign Language in Senior High School.
The new curriculum guidelines, for the 12 year compulsory education, incorporate the Southeast Asia language in the required courses in the elementary school. However, Taiwan currently has a shortage of Cambodian, Filipino and Malaysian teachers.2
1.5. MOE regulation and education reforms
The Ministry of Education (MOE), under the executive Yuan, is in charge of educational affairs that were formerly handled by the province. The MOE is responsible for setting and maintaining education policies and managing public institutions of education throughout Taiwan. It have it’s on budget and play a crucial role in strategic policies, however, county and municipal authorities have power to handle funding, supply of teachers, curriculum and enrolments at their level.
2 Shortage of Southeast Asian Language Teachers in Taiwan's New K-12 Education Policy- international.thenewslens.com/article/35351)
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In 1968 a nine year Compulsory Education system was put into effect and consisted of six years for elementary education and three years junior high school. The Compulsory Education Act aimed to offering equal educational opportunities to students regardless of their family background.
After 1994 in the hope of moving toward diversity and excellence, the MOE published a series of educational laws, as the University Act, the Teacher Education Law, the Teacher Act, the National Education Act, the Education Basic Law, the Faculty and Staff Retirement and Pension Rule, Regulations for Establishing a Parents Association. Schools gained in autonomy and get the right to select their textbook. The privatization of textbook, that was carry after 1996, was a step forward to focus on local history and geography and eradicate the pro-china or Japanese colonial influence.
In 2001 the government integrate the elementary and junior high school curriculum. The main changes were to help students develop self-understanding, respect for others, self-expression, capacity for lifelong learning, and respect for the law and global perspectives.
Government get pressure from employer that required skilled workers and therefore extended the period of compulsory education. In 2014 the government announced the implementation of a 12-year Curriculum for Basic Education, as a response to foster key competencies in future generations and boost Taiwan’s economic competitiveness.
The 2016-17 the MOE Activity Report named three main objectives for its future:
1. “Encourage students to attend schools close to their home; and progressively implement adaptive learning and completely non exam-based admission to each stage of the 12-Year Basic Education program.
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2. Allocate educational resources in order to safeguard the right to an education of students in rural areas, of students with disabilities, and of socio-economically disadvantaged and other vulnerable students, thereby addressing social justice concerns.
3. Train professional teachers who can think independently, and who respect diversity and treat different students equally.”
This new curriculum is based on goals, missions, and values which place learners at the center of an adaptive education, given him a variety of choices for advanced learning, and provides guidance to suitable careers in line with international trends.
The undergoing education reforms in 2016-17 focus on the following aspect of the K-12 education:
1. A quality environment for schools 2. Promote innovative teaching
3. More Senior High School to be education free 4. Adaptive courses for students learning needs
5. Improve technological and vocational education and the connection between work and school
6. Professional development of teacher, with teaching practice, digital learning, and differentiated instruction
7. Train student to problem solving and independent innovative thinking 8. Rural school and the right to learn in remote areas
9. Diverse learning environment
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10. Native language classes for new immigrants 11. Strengthen indigenous people education 12. Career development
13. Lifelong learning
14. Promote regular exercise activities
The Department of Planning and Resource of the MOE mention that in 2018 the compulsory education system will be completely implemented at the high school level leading to development of adaptive learning and completely non exam-based admission to each stage of the 12-Year Basic Education program.
The government want to encourage students to attend schools close to their home. However competition in the school system will be allow for some top school, to attract best students from other districts.
Education reforms helped Taiwan to develop its education to the current state and forged the country own national and cultural identity, but still striving for more transformation. Taiwan has to participating in internationalization and integrates internationalization as well as localization in education reform to give a clear understanding of Taiwan as a nation for its citizens.
The recent reforms are therefore a continuity to develop, modernize and adapt to local and global needs for its educational system. However in the past there has been problematic area around the management, high turnover of Ministers education, lack of trial study to implement reform, lack teacher training, miscommunication with parent’s, the gap rural
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versus city and rich versus poor. It is too early at this stage to have a clear feedback if the reforms succeed to fix those issues.
In its vision for the coming years the MOE will uphold the concept of “replace the right to an education with the right to learn, for all citizens, and make education genuinely learner centered”(..) carry out deregulation and innovation in the education system, take initiative to establish platforms to communicate to the world and strengthen partnerships with local governments to cultivate mature citizens for the next generation. “ (annual report 2016-17) placing in the center of its vision the role of private educational institutions.