Education in Taiwan
Population: 23 million people
Literacy Rate: ? %
GNP: USD ? per capita
Human Development Index: 0.?
The Taiwanese educational system produces pupils with some of the highest test scores in the world, especially in math and science.[1][2] It has also been criticised for placing excessive pressure on students and eschewing creativity in favour of rote memorisation. Recent educational reforms intended to address these criticisms are a topic of intense debate in the Republic of China.
Although current law mandates only nine years of schooling, 95% of students go on to high school, trade school or college.
The literacy rate in Taiwan is around 95%.
Primary education
Elementary schools
Elementary schools span grades 1 through 6, classes are held from Monday through Friday, typically from 7:30 AM through 4PM (or noon on Wednesdays). Subjects include:
* Mandarin: The official language of instruction.
* Mathematics: Mathematics education begins with the basics and reaches introductory algebra and geometry by the 6th grade.
* Science: Comprehensive science classes covering basic biology, physics, and chemistry.
* English: English is a compulsory subject within the mainstream school system from Grade 3 Elementary School and up.
* Native languages: Additional language classes in Taiwanese and Hakka are offered.
* Social studies
* Physical education
* Music
* Art
Like middle schools, students are typically assigned to the elementary school closest to their registered place of residence. This leads some parents to file their children´s household registration with other relatives or friends for the purpose of sending their children to what are perceived as better schools.
Secondary education
Junior high school
Junior high school spans grades 7 through 9 and is the last half of compulsory education. Unlike the slower pace of elementary school, junior high students typically have a single goal in life: to score high on the national senior high school entrance exams at the end of 9th grade. Consequently, the pressure on students from teachers and parents is intense. Though instruction officially ends around 4PM, students often stay in school till as late as 8 or 9PM for "extra classes" (which typically consist of extra quizzes and review).
Subject matter covered includes:
* Literature: Classical and modern Chinese literature and poetry, composition and public speaking.
* Mathematics: Covers single and two variable algebra, geometry, proofs, trigonometry, and pre-calculus.
* English
* Biology: Taken during first year, includes more in depth studies and lab work.
* Physics and Chemistry: Taken during second and third year. More rigorous introduction to physical laws and equations, includes lab work.
* Civics & Moral values
* History: Focus on the history of Taiwan, China and East Asia, also includes world history.
* Geography: Geography of Taiwan, Mainland China, and the world. In the past students were taught the 1947 map of China leading many to criticize that "history was being taught as geography". Recent years have seen a growing emphasis on Taiwan.
* Physical education
* Home economics & crafts
* Music
* Scout education: Outdoor survival skills.
At the end of their third year, students participate in the national senior high school entrance exams and are assigned to senior high schools based upon their scores. Students may also participate in a separate national vocational school entrance exam if they wish to attend vocational school. In both cases, public schools are usually the most popular while private schools have traditionally been viewed as a backup for those unable to score high enough for public schools.
Roughly 94.7% of junior high school students continue on to senior high or vocational school.
Senior high school
Senior high school spans grades 10 through 12, again the main goal of students is to score highly on the national university entrance exams at the end of their third year. The pace is just as, if not more intense than junior high school.
Discipline in educational institutions from high school and up (including vocational schools) are the responsibility of military officers stationed at the individual schools (as opposed to elementary and junior high school where teachers and school administrators were responsible for discipline). In addition to the normal subjects, students are also required to attend a military education class covering issues such as civil defense, military drills, national defense, and basic firearms training. In the past, high (and vocational) school students were expected to take on civil defense duties in the event of national emergency.
In many high schools incoming students may select science or liberal arts tracks depending on where their interests lie. The different learning tracks are commonly referred to as groups. Group I consists of liberal arts students, Group II and Group III of science based students (the latter studies biology as an additional subject). Science based curriculum consists of more rigorous science and math classes intended to prepare the student for a career in the sciences and engineering; the liberal arts track places a heavier emphasis on literature and social studies to prepare students for a future in those fields.
Entrance to university is administered via two methods: Recommendations or Examination. For those that participate in recommendations, they have to take a national academic exam and selecting a list of majors that they are applying to. The first stage is a screening of exam results for eligibility, the second stage would be dependent on the conditions of individual departments selected. For those that did not choose to take the recommendations process, or failed their applications, they have the choice to participate in the national university entrance exams after graduation in hopes of university admission.
Vocational schools
Vocational schools are three-year institutions similar to normal high schools. Unlike normal high schools, they place a heavier emphasis on practical and vocational skills. Incoming students typically choose a single concentration, such as electrical engineering, civil engineering, computer science or business. Some specialized vocational schools also offer programs in seamanship and agriculture. Vocational school graduates may also participate in the national university entrance exams. It is not uncommon for students to select vocational school over high school and proceed to a four year college afterwards.
Higher education
There are over 100 institutions of higher education in Taiwan. Roughly 66.6% of the over 100,000 students taking the national university entrance exams are accepted to a higher educational institution. Since the 1990s many trade schools and junior colleges have been "promoted" to university status, which can account for the high university entrance rates. Nonetheless a high score is desired as admission to the most prestigious institutions (such as National Taiwan University) is still highly selective.
University
Taiwan has several universities, both public and private. Traditionally, public schools are viewed as being more prestigious than private schools. The logic for this is because private schools were originally seen as schools that catered to those students who did not gain acceptance to the public schools such as National Taiwan University, and that charged these students´ parents (usually of reasonable affluence) money in order for the children to at least gain college education of some sort. Engineering is extremely popular and engineering degrees account for over a quarter of the bachelor degrees awarded in Taiwan. Popular majors include: electrical engineering and medicine (traditionally the most selective, and most prestigious).
Some of the most highly regarded universities in Taiwan include:
* National Taiwan University: The most prestigious university in Taiwan, has a very well respected medical school.
* National Tsinghua University: Famous in academic studies of natural sciences, such as physics and chemistry. Had a reputation as "male-dominant" school in the past.
* National Taipei University: Famous in law, business, public administration and social science.
* National Cheng Kung University: Prestigious engineering programs. One of only two universities in Taiwan to offer a program in aerospace engineering.
* National Chiao Tung University: Famous for electrical engineering due to its proximity to the Hsinchu Science Park. Has a joint reputation with NTHU as a male-dominated "geek school".
* National Central University: Famous in Center for Space and Remote Sensing Research
* National Chung Hsing University: Famous in agriculture, biology and social science.
* National Chengchi University: Famous in management and the premiere and most prestigious School of Communication in Taiwan
Updated On: 15.02.09