Education in Taiwan 1

Education in Taiwan

Emily Messman

Arizona State University

March 28, 2017

Education in Taiwan 2

In September of 2012, the United Nations created a five-year plan to enhance global

education. This plan was called the Global Education First Initiative, or the GEFI ("Priorities |

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization", 2016). Within this plan, there

are three main tiers, or goals. The first goal is to put every child in school. Many children are

unable to finish primary schooling, and many others are not able to attend high school or any

post-primary schooling ("Priorities | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural

Organization", 2016). The second tier is to improve the quality of education that students are

receiving. It is not enough to place children in schools with unmotivated or unqualified teachers

with little or outdated books and tools. Lastly, the third goal is to foster global citizenship.

Education is necessary when it comes to people connecting and understanding each other

globally. Countries all over the Earth need to be peaceful, just, and tolerant ("Priorities | United

Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization", 2016). Without proper education, it

is much more difficult to reach that goal.

Education in Taiwan 3

Taiwan has made great strides in enhancing the education system in recent years.

Originally, the only schooling that was required was the first 9 years. In 2014, three more years

of compulsory senior secondary education was implemented (Magaziner, 2016). Also in 2014,

the literacy rate of Taiwan among citizens age 15 and older was at 98.5%. With a population

estimated at about 23.5 million people, 23.1 million are literate. In 2002, admissions for

universities was modified. Instead of the Joint University Entrance Examination being the only

determining factor in university admission, the Subject Competency Test and the Designated

Subjects Examination and a multi-channeled structure were added as criteria (Magaziner, 2016).

This gives students plenty of options and different opportunities to be accepted into a university

which promotes higher education.

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This table shows the general education information and changes throughout the years, including the
literacy rates. This is important when looking at the first and second tiers of the GEFI ("Education in
Taiwan 2016/2017", 2016).

The first two goals of the GEFI are very closely related. Taiwans quality of education is

top ranked and impressive. In order for teachers to be certified, they must completer at least 4

years and a 6-month internship as well as take the Ministry of Educations Teacher Qualification

Exam (Magaziner, 2016). Along with the previously stated education reforms, Taiwan also

changed the way in which schools are run. Instead of nation-wide curriculum, each school is

responsible for deciding what curriculum will be taught. Schools are to offer exam-free pathways

to take away stress and anxiety that often accompanies school. Taiwan strengthened the support

for students who are disadvantaged and improved their vocation schools (Magaziner, 2016). In

2006, Taiwan earned 1st place in the PISA for mathematics. Later, in 2012, Taiwan ranked 4th for

mathematics. Between 2009 and 2012, Taiwan jumped 19 places to 4th place in reading which is

likely due to the Happy Reading 101 initiative of 2009 ("Taiwan Overview", 2017). These are

impressive rankings and creative reforms that make Taiwan an excellent example of

implementing educational change for the bettering of students.

This graph displays PISA scores for Mathematics, Reading, and Science. This illuminates the high
rankings Taiwan students have earned compared to other countries ("Taiwan Overview", 2017).
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Global Citizenship is absolutely necessary in this world. One of the most critical

components in fostering this mentality is higher education. Completing at least 4 years of higher

education has been shown to improve students global perspective as well as the knowing and

knowledge of other cultures (Braskamp & Engberg, 2014). While it is not easy to judge global

citizenship mentalities among students, the higher education statistics point in the right direction.

Taiwan made it easier for students to enroll in higher education by offering multiple entrance

exams and structures. Over 5 million Taiwanese people have degrees in some sort of post-

secondary schooling. About 1.3 million people in the country have earned a graduate degree,

which was only at 570,000 people in 2005 (Magaziner, 2016). This is extremely promising when

it comes to all three goals of the GEFI, especially the fostering of global citizenship.
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Works Cited

Braskamp, L. A., & Engberg, M. E. (2014, December 17). How Colleges Can Influence the

Development of a Global Perspective. Retrieved March 28, 2017, from

https://www.aacu.org/publications-research/periodicals/how-colleges-can-influence-

development-global-perspective#table1

Education in Taiwan 2016/2017. (2016, September 8). Retrieved March 28, 2017, from

http://english.moe.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=16909&ctNode=11416&mp=2

Magaziner, J. (2016, June 7). Education in Taiwan. Retrieved March 28, 2017, from

http://wenr.wes.org/2016/06/education-in-taiwan

Priorities | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. (2016). Retrieved

March 28, 2017, from http://www.unesco.org/new/en/gefi/priorities/

Taiwan Overview. (2017). Retrieved March 28, 2017, from http://ncee.org/what-we-do/center-

on-international-education-benchmarking/top-performing-countries/taiwan-overview/