The educational system in Taiwan is the responsibility of the Ministry of Education. The system produces pupils with some of the highest test scores in the world, especially in mathematics and science.
In 2015, Taiwanese students achieved one of the world's best results in mathematics, science and literacy, as tested by the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), a worldwide evaluation of 15-year-old school pupils' scholastic performance. Taiwan is one of the top-performing OECD countries in reading literacy, mathematics and sciences with the average student scoring 523.7, compared with the OECD average of 493, placing it seventh in the world and has one of the world's most highly educated labor forces among OECD countries. Current law mandates twelve years of schooling. Before the 12-year educational system was implemented in 2014, 95 percent junior high school students go on to a senior vocational high school, trade school, junior college, or university.
In Taiwan, adhering to the Confucian paradigm for education where parents believe that receiving a good education is a very high priority for Taiwanese families and an important goal in their children's life. Many parents in Taiwan believe that effort and persistence matters more than innate ability if their children want to receive better grades in school. These beliefs are shared by the teachers and guidance counselors and the schools as they regularly keep the parents abreast on their child's overall academic performance in the school. Many parents have high expectations for their children, emphasize academic achievement and actively intervene in their children's academic progress by making sure that their children receive top grades and would go on to great sacrifices including borrowing money to put their child through university.
Due to its role in promoting Taiwan's economic development, high test results, and high university entrance rate, Taiwan's education system has been praised. 45 percent of Taiwanese aged 25 to 64 hold a bachelor's degree or higher. However, the education system has been criticized for its overemphasis on rote memorization and excessive academic pressure it places on students. Students in Taiwan are faced with immense pressure to succeed academically from their parents, teachers, peers, and society in order to secure prestigious white collar job positions while eschewing vocational education, critical thinking, and creativity. With a narrow bandwidth of prestigious job positions and a far greater number of university graduates seeking them, many have been employed in lesser positions with salaries far below their expectations. Taiwan's universities have also been criticized for not keeping up with the technological trends and employment demands in its fast moving job market referring to a skills mismatch cited by a number of self assessed and overeducated university graduates. In addition, the Taiwanese government has been criticized for undermining the economy as it has been unable to create enough jobs to support the demands of the numerous unemployed university graduates.
History
The Dutch East India Company, the Ming Chinese loyalists under Koxinga, Qing China, and the Japanese all implemented education systems on Taiwan. Christianity was taught under Dutch rule. Taiwan also had many academies, such as Daodong Academy, Fongyi Academy, Huangxi Academy, Jhen Wen Academy, Mingxin Academy and Pingtung Academy.
In 1944–1945, the Republic of China under the Chinese Nationalist Party led by Chiang Kai-shek took control of the island; the existing private school infrastructure was curtailed over suspicions of its political loyalty. After the retreat of the ROC to Taiwan in 1949, they sought to use public schools to assimilate the Taiwanese population; private schools, seen as an obstacle to this process, were suppressed. By 1954, however, the party yielded to calls for education reform, and began to revitalize and expand private schooling. The Nationalists used a number of measures (such as filling school boards with loyalists and careful control of state funding) to ensure that private schooling remained under state influence.
Public education The public education system in Taiwan spans nursery schools through university. Public education has been compulsory from primary school through junior high school since 1968. In August 2011, the Executive Yuan confirmed that a full twelve-year compulsory education program would be implemented by 2014. As part of the same educational reforms, President Ma Ying-jeou had announced in January 2011 that financial support for preschool education would begin, starting with fee waivers.
Access to high school and university is controlled by a series of national exams. Discipline in public schools of all levels is generally very tight with school uniforms and morning reveille being the norm. Students of all levels through high school are responsible for cleaning their own classrooms and areas around the school, cleanup time being a daily ritual. Corporal punishment is officially banned, but many reports suggest it is still practiced by many teachers, due in no small part to the fact that most parents support it.
The school year consists of two semesters. The fall semester begins in early September and runs till late January or early February. Winter vacation typically runs from three to four weeks around the Lunar New Year. Spring semester begins following the Lantern Festival in mid February and ends in late June. From middle school on, many schools hold "optional supplementary classes" during winter and summer vacation as well as after normal school hours. Despite the name, in many cases participation is compulsory. The language of instruction is Mandarin.
School grades The school year is divided into two semesters. The first begins in the beginning of September and ends in January; the second begins in mid February and ends in late June. LevelGradeAge by September 1NotesKindergartennone3–6Preschool educationRegulated by the Early Childhood Education and Care ActElementary school1st6National education, compulsory educationRegulated by the Primary and Junior High School Act2nd73rd84th95th106th11Junior high school7th128th139th14Senior high schoolSenior High 1st (10th)15National education since 2019Regulated by the Senior High School Education ActSenior High 2nd (11th)16Senior High 3rd (12th)17
The tertiary education and postgraduate education in Taiwan have different tracks and their years and grades varies. LevelTypical lengthDegreeNotesJunior college5 years after junior high school2 years after senior high schoolAssociate degreeRegulated by the Junior College ActUniversity (Undergraduate)4–7 years after senior high school2 years after junior collegeBachelor's degreeRegulated by the University ActUniversity (Postgraduate)1–4 years after bachelor's degreeMaster's degree2–7 years after master's degreeDoctor's degree
In addition, special education, adult education, and continuing education also exist in Taiwan following similar systems mentioned above.
National Education The current national basic education in Taiwan is 12 years education. The implementation of this compulsory education replaces the old 9 years education.
The 12 years education policy was originally proposed in 1983, but was delayed for financial reasons.
Elementary school Elementary schools span grades 1 through 6, classes are held from Monday through Friday, typically from 7:30 AM through 4 PM (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 Chinese are offered. Social studies Music Art
Like junior high 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.
Junior high school
Junior high school spans grades 7 through 9 and is the last half of compulsory education. Junior high students typically focus on preparing for the national senior high school entrance exams at the end of 9th grade. School ends around 5PM, but students often stay in school later for quizzes and additional exam preparations.
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: Contains essential English grammar Science & Technology Biology: Taken during first year, includes more in depth studies and lab work. Chemistry: Taken during second year. More rigorous introduction to atoms, molecule, and chemical reactions, including lab work. Physics: Taken during second year. More rigorous introduction to physical laws and equations, including lab work. Earth Science: Taken during third year. Technology: Taken during the whole three years. Introduce some basic technology in daily life. Social Studies Civics: Basic demotics, politics, and economics. History: Focus on the history of Taiwan and China during the first two years, and world history during third year. Geography: Contain introductive geography accompanied with geography of Taiwan during first year, geography of China and East Asia during second year, and the world geography during third year. Home economics & crafts Art: Inclusive of three independent parts: Fine Art, Music, and Drama. PE 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.
Regular 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) is 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. In the past, high (and vocational) school students were expected to take on civil defense duties in the event of national emergency. Boys and girls were trained to use firearms and hurl grenades.