Taiwan's Education
   
  Education
 

Education is strongly emphasized in Taiwan. Even the ROC Constitution requires an allocation of the national budget for educational purposes (Article 164). Over the last decade, Taiwan's educational development focused on higher education. Some 24.32 percent of the education budget was allocated for 1,187,225 students (22.18 percent of the total student population) in the higher education system, whereas 51.31 percent was spent on the 2,861,229 elementary and junior high students (53.44 percent of the total student population) in the compulsory education system for the 2000 fiscal year. Uneven budgetary distribution in the past caused the government to shift focus and place greater emphasis on improving the quality of compulsory education. In July 1997, the second session of the third National Assembly passed a provision to Paragraph 10, Article 10, of the Additional Articles of the Constitution of the Republic of China that states: "Priority shall be given to funding for education, science, and culture, and in particular funding for compulsory education, the restrictions in Article 164 of the Constitution notwithstanding." Therefore, although this provision gives compulsory education higher priority funding within the education budget, it also removes the minimum expenditure requirements for different levels of the government as required in Article 164 of the ROC Constitution. Thus, after the implementation of the Additional Articles, the government was given more freedom to allocate budget resources for different government functions, solving past budget allocation problems.

Even though a larger proportion of the population now receives higher education (48.8 per 1,000 persons in 2001), the education system in general has been criticized for its inflexibility and failure to address the needs of Taiwan's rapidly changing society. As a result, educational reform has become a top priority and, in the last few years, measures have been adopted to solve problems in different areas of the educational system. Measures have focused on establishing a more comprehensive compulsory education system; creating a more universal preschool education system; improving the higher education system; diversifying and refining the vocational education system; setting up a system of life-long learning and information education; and adding additional channels for continued study, new student counseling systems, and programs for fostering pedagogic talents and on-the-job training. Furthermore, family education, aboriginal education, special education, and budget allocation and research are being emphasized. These measures will be discussed in the following sections.

   
 
   
  Higher Education
 
Higher education, also called post-secondary education or tertiary education, includes a variety of programs beyond secondary schools. In Taiwan, such education is provided by junior colleges, colleges, universities, and graduate programs. College and university enrollment in SY2001 was 48.78 per 1,000 of the total population, and if the two open universities and continuing education are included, the percentage was 54.10, ranking Taiwan as having one of the highest rates of enrollment in the world. Junior colleges focus primarily on applied sciences, staffing well-trained technicians for the labor market. Other than the five-year junior colleges, which usually enroll students directly from junior high school, there are also two-year junior colleges, technical and other colleges, and universities.

In theory, students can test into any of these institutions from either senior high or senior vocational schools. Moreover, students who complete any junior college program may take the relevant examinations to enter college or university as freshmen. If the college or university offers it, they may also transfer in by taking tests held by individual departments, entering as sophomores or juniors. Private medical colleges enroll transfer students through a joint entrance examination.

Finally, universities and colleges offer a wide variety of master's and doctoral programs, which are also entered through either individual competitive examination or directly from college or university.

In 1950, seven institutions offered higher education programs to 6,665 students. One university had three graduate-level departments. Since then, the government has established additional colleges and universities and has also allowed the private sector to set up such institutions. By 1974, 13 public and 19 private higher education institutions had been opened. The number of higher education institutions in SY2001 reached 154, consisting of 57 universities, 78 independent colleges, and 19 junior colleges. A total of 1,187,225 undergraduates were enrolled in these institutions, which also had 103,213 graduate students in 1,668 graduate programs.

  Special Education
 
This category includes programs and facilities for gifted children, as well as those with special needs due to handicaps or learning disabilities. There are special schools in the latter category for blind, deaf, physically handicapped, and mentally retarded students. Generally, these schools are operated by the government and run parallel to the mainstream educational system, extending from preschool through senior vocational school. In SY2001, there were 5,860 students in 24 such schools. In addition, 2,586 mainstream schools offered 5,040 classes for 90,389 special students (disabled or gifted).

In SY2001, three schools for the blind had an enrollment of 441 students, four schools for the deaf enrolled a total of 933 students, nine schools for mentally retarded pupils had 3,235 students, one school for the physically handicapped had 385 students, and seven special schools for students with learning problems had 866 students.

In SY2001, the Resource Education Program helped establish 1,075 resource rooms, providing facilities for 20,681 students with special needs at the elementary and high school levels.

In SY2001, a total of 151 schools offered classes for 11,386 gifted students, and another 467 schools provided classes for "talented" students. Most gifted and talented children are educated in regular schools, but with special provisions to meet their needs. Gifted students are classified as those who have superior abilities in either mathematics or the sciences, whereas talented students are those who excel in such areas as music, fine art, dance, or sports.

Since the formulation of the Special Education Law in 1984, handicapped children or those with other health problems have been allowed to receive education at home. In SY2001, home study services were provided to 1,356 special students by 98 schools.

  Social Education
 
The Ministry of Education supports a number of social education programs under the Social Education Law. These programs include support for supplementary education, adult education, and other services such as museums, libraries, exhibition centers, social education centers, and cultural centers. Social education programs include courses in Mandarin Chinese (for native speakers of regional dialects) and family education.

Supplementary Education
Supplementary schools may be private or public. Most students receive certificates upon completion, and some may receive diplomas equivalent in level to those in the mainstream system by passing examinations. The top schools in the supplementary system are open universities. National Open University has been in operation since 1987, while the new Open University of Kaohsiung began enrolling undergraduates in 1997.

In SY2001, the two open universities provided education to 33,681 students. The male-female ratio was 1 to 2.3. Of all the age groups, female students aged between 30-34 ranked the highest. In SY2001, there were 2,647 graduates from these two universities.

Supplementary education can be divided into three types: compulsory, advanced, and short-term. Supplementary schools are attached to regular schools at their corresponding levels in the mainstream either as correspondence or night schools. Weekend classes are also offered.

Supplementary compulsory education, also known as fundamental supplementary education, is a formal educational activity for adults and includes elementary through junior high school level courses. Supplementary advanced education, or continuing education, enrolls students from four different areas: senior high school, senior vocational school, junior college, and college. After completing the prescribed courses of study and passing the qualification exams, graduates earn mainstream-equivalent diplomas. Those enrolled in short-term supplementary education usually do so in either general or technical educational courses.

In SY2001, 231,332 students attended 876 supplementary schools. Approximately 35,329 elementary and junior high students were in 642 schools; 5,400 senior high and 104,943 senior vocational students were in 234 schools; 76,091 junior college students were in 45 schools; 9,569 supplementary college students were in 31 schools; and 33,681 students were in the two open universities. There are two kinds of undergraduates in open universities: regular students and elective students. To be admitted, regular students must be at least 20 years old and have senior high school or equivalent qualifications. To graduate, regular students must acquire 128 credits. Elective students must be at least 18 years of age, are not required to have senior-high school equivalent qualifications, and need to get 40 credits before becoming regular students. If they choose to continue, they can get their bachelor's degree for another 88 credits.

In addition, 39,750 students participated in the Practical Technical Program offered by 157 schools. This program provides practical skills and craftsmanship for those who do not wish to continue academic studies after the compulsory education.

Short-term Supplementary Classes
A large number of private supplementary schools, or "cram schools," prepare students for the senior high school and university entrance examinations. Other cram schools specialize in such subjects as foreign languages, children's classes, civil service exams, TOEFL, and other exams required for study abroad. A large number of students also attend review classes at the 4,295 such schools in order to gain academic assistance in general subjects and pass entrance examinations. As of the end of 2002, there were 10,435 such schools registered with the MOE. About 16.2 percent of Taiwan's registered cram schools are in Taipei City, 10.5 percent in Taipei County, 10.5 percent in Kaohsiung City, and 8.9 percent in Taichung City. Metropolitan areas have the largest market for short-term supplementary education.

As the government encourages English proficiency for the ROC nationals, the number of English language schools grew rapidly and increased to about 4,000 in 2002. Furthermore, more people attended supplementary computer classes to gain an edge in the competitive job market.

Since cram schools fulfill a definite need in Taiwan's educational system, the government is exercising closer supervision of their safety and educational standards.

  Continuing Education Outside of Taiwan
 
In August 2001, the MOE announced that universities in Taiwan would be able to open extension programs abroad Taiwan. This change in policy was made to answer local universities' demands to offer extension programs for Taiwanese business people in Southeast Asia and China, as these two areas have the highest concentration of Taiwanese expatriates.

Under this plan, credits earned in the extension programs will be applicable toward a bachelor's or master's degree. Current regulations will also be revised to accommodate the overseas education program.

  Other Educational Options
 
Adult education classes are offered in such areas as writing skills, practical mathematics, and civics. Technical classes in basic job skills are also available at training centers. In addition, National Open University offers classes through radio and correspondence that can lead to a bachelor's degree. The Open University of Kaohsiung is the second university to offer such courses and is the first to be located in southern Taiwan. These open university programs are available to all senior high school graduates or equivalently qualified secondary education students. The Educational Broadcasting Station, Chinese Television System, and school-on-the-air also offer educational classes.