TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taipei's century-old Qiangshu High School (強恕中學) and Xinmin Elementary School (新民國小) agreed on Friday (Dec. 13) to transform into "Xinmin International School" (新民國際中學), aiming for a 2025 debut. Both schools hope the Department of Education will swiftly approve the plan, allowing them to recruit under the new name. However, the department has not yet received the proposal.
Jiang Shu-liang (江書良), chairman of Qiangshu's board, said the high school currently has 280 students, while its junior high section has not enrolled new students for five years. He noted the challenging environment for student recruitment, hence considering a comprehensive 12-year educational system to allow students to progress from elementary through high school.
Jiang stressed that collaborating with Xinmin, renowned for its bilingual education, will leverage Xinmin's reputation to enhance teaching while utilizing Qiangshu's campus and addressing the school's declining enrollment.
Rao Bang-an (饒邦安), principal of Xinmin, highlighted that many parents face difficulties finding suitable junior high schools after their children graduate. The partnership is ideal for parents who desire a complete education system, given Qiangshu's existing junior high and the proximity of both schools.
Huang Qiao-wei (黃喬偉), head of the Department of Education's Secondary Education Division (教育局中等教育科), stated that the department needs to review the proposal, which includes curriculum planning and site inspections. The process will take over a year once the proposal is submitted.
