* Taiwan school schools educational Taiwan school schools educational







Taiwan Education



Figure 1.--Here a group of primary-age children are waiting for school-bus in a village near Taipei. The photo was taken in May 1967. Notice the school caps and hats, a lingering Japanese influence.

Japan acquired Taiwan in the first Sino-Japanese War (1894-95). Japanese rule was represive, but not as brutal as in Korea. It also included prograns to modernize the islands. This included both building infrastructure and developing a public school system. Until the Japanese invasion, Taiwn which the Japanese called Formosa had no public schools. Japan introduced the first modern schools to the island and the pattern was similar to that of the adminintration of Korea. The schools were taught in Japanese. Students were not allowed to speak in Taiwanese or Chinese. As a result, When China took control after World War II, Taiwan unlike most of China had a modern eduction system. This and free market capitalism are the major factors explaiing why both South Korea and Taiwan became ecconomic powerhouses in Asia--two of the Asian Tigers. Economic success and a government emphasis on education has enabled Taiwan to build a fine public school system. Taiwan now has one of the highest literacy rates in the world. The Government estimates that about 93 percent of the population is literate. School attendance is compulsory and free for the first 9 years of school. Most children attend public schols. Private schools exist, but educate a relatively small part of the school-age population, largely because of the high-quality of the state system. The intense pressure in the state system, as in Japan has given rise to cram schools (buxiban). The compulsory school system included 6 years of primary school and 3 years of junior high school. Local government is responsible for teacher salaries. There are no school fees in the public schools and text books are provided free. Parents are respionsible for school supplies. The Government conducted a major curriculum change, substantially increasing the math and sciene component (1968). This was in line with the rapidly developing economy. Students to enter senior high school must pass a qualifying examination. Over 90 percent of the children satifactorily passed the examination. There are both academic and senior secondary schools. In addition to academic high schools the students can persue agriculture, engineering, commerce, maritime navigation, home economics, and nursing in vocational schools. Results are impressive, Taiwan children regularly score at or near the top of children in international rankings in math and science. A Taiwan reader writes, "When it comes to Taiwanese school uniforms the funny think is that at about 80 percent of the schools the girls wear a white blouse and kilt-like pleaded skirt with a Scottish tartan. It is funny to see that a scottish tradition for men and boys has completely changed into something girlish. Boys commonly wear white shirts and pants. At private schools, the white blouses and shirts often have school monogram (2015)."

Chronology

We know nothing about Taiwanese schools until the modern era. The indugenous poulation was Austronesian. Overtime the Chinese began populating the islandvand reolacing the indigenous popukation which is today a tiny part of the popukation. China historically paid little attention to Taiawan. Tge island was controlled by Portugal , the Nererkands and porates before China firmally seized the isaland (18th century). We know nothing about the schools during this early period. Presumably the Chinese established some schools, the same type of elite education that existed on the Mainland. Japan after the Meiji Restoration (1869) began to nbuik a modern education system. Japan seized Taiwan in the First Sino-Japanese War (1894-95). The Jaoan began to build a modern education system on Taiwan. Japanese rule was represive, but not as brutal as in Korea. It also included prograns to modernize the islands. This included both building infrastructure and developing a public school system. Until the Japanese invasion, Taiwn which the Japanese called Formosa had no public schools. Japan introduced the first modern schools to the island and the pattern was similar to that of the adminintration of Korea. The schools were taught in Japanese. Students were not allowed to speak in Taiwanese or Chinese. After World war II,m unlike Koirea, Taiwan was no mmade independent, but returned to China (1945). When China took control after World War II, Taiwan unlike most of China had a modern eduction system. There was some resistance to the Chinese, but Nationalist China under Chaing Jai=sgeck and the KMI maintained control by force. Over time Taiwan made a transitiin to a modern democratic society. The school system folloed that transition, from a forum for KMI prppaganda to a modern open school system. Taiwan tofay has one of tge finest public education systems in the world.

Tiger Economy

Japanese colonial rule and free market capitalism are the major factors explaiing why both South Korea and Taiwan became ecconomic powerhouses in Asia--two of the Asian Tigers. Economic success and a government emphasis on education has enabled Taiwan to build a fine public school system. The two other Tiger economies (Hong Kong anbd Singapore) were former British colonies. After these four countries had proved thst rejecting socialism and embracing capitalism was a recipie for economic success, China than embraced the idea and prived yhst oyher countries without a cololoial experience could make it work--and mske it work sprctacularly. Perhaps just as stunning as the siccesses achieved is how so many young American have somehow got the idea that socailism is an economic system that sctually works.

Literacy

Taiwan now has one of the highest literacy rates in the world. The Government estimates that about 93 percent of the population is literate. School attendance is compulsory and free for the first 9 years of school.

School Types

Most children attend public schols. Private schools exist, but educate a relatively small part of the school-age population, largely because of the high-quality of the state system. The intense pressure in the state system, as in Japan has given rise to cram schools (buxiban).

School System

The compulsory school system included 6 years of primary school and 3 years of junior high school. Local government is responsible for teacher salaries. There are no school fees in the public schools and text books are provided free. Parents are respionsible for school supplies. The Government conducted a major curriculum change, substantially increasing the math and sciene component (1968). This was in line with the rapidly developing economy. Students to enter senior high school must pass a qualifying examination. Over 90 percent of the children satifactorily passed the examination. There are both academic and senior secondary schools. In addition to academic high schools the students can persue agriculture, engineering, commerce, maritime navigation, home economics, and nursing in vocational schools.

Academic Standards

Results are impressive, Taiwan children regularly score at or near the top of children in international rankings in math and science.

Schoolwear

Durung the Jaoaneseera,the children wore Japanese-style uniforms. A Taiwan reader writes, "When it comes to Taiwanese school uniforms the funny think is that at about 80 percent of the schools the girls wear a white blouse and kilt-like pleaded skirt with a Scottish tartan. It is funny to see that a scottish tradition for men and boys has completely changed into something girlish. Boys commonly wear white shirts and pants. At private schools, the white blouses and shirts often have school monogram (2015)."








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Created: 5:54 AM 10/14/2010
Last updated: 1:18 AM 10/21/2020