TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Kindergartens in Taiwan usually see 2 to 3 teachers per class of 30 or more students. From reading and writing to teaching students basic rules and manners, teachers have their hands full all day.
As Taiwan's birth rate continues to decline, preschool and kindergarten educators welcome an increasing number of "only children" whose parents seek more detailed updates and daily reports on their progress at school.
Lin Yi-ching, a prinicpal at a non-profit preschool explained that "there is quite a lot of pressure in this line of work."
"In fact, nowadays, most college and university departments related to childcare and education are slowly beginning to see the number of students drop," he said.
In an effort to help alleviate some of the burdens of new parents, the government had vowed to establish 3,000 non-profit kindergartens and preschools this year.
However, the demand for them has decreased along with Taiwan's birth rate, meaning many are now seeing low enrollment rates. To make matters worse, a shortage of licensed educators has also impacted the industry.
In today's climate, the wages for educators in government-established kindergartens start from NT＄33,000 and up, with summer and winter vacations included.
This is already much better than in private kindergartens where the average wage packages range between NT＄26,000 and NT＄28,000.
Under these circumstances, fewer people are willing to pursue a career in early education, despite their love for children.
Taiwan faces an uphill battle as it navigates its transformation into a super-aging society, but continuing to provide quality education for younger generations remains of utmost importance.
Clear and effective solutions must be identified in order to guarantee the nation's future prosperity.
