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Education head backs bilingual policy despite union concerns
Taipei’s Education Minister, Pan Wen-chung, responded to concerns raised by the National Federation of Teachers Unions (NFTU) about the 2030 Bilingual Nation policy. Pan emphasized the importance of English proficiency as a crucial competitive skill for students. He emphasized the need for a balanced approach in teaching methods and strategies to ensure that students’ foundational academic abilities are not neglected. The NFTU expressed apprehension that excessive emphasis on English in the bilingual policy could undermine national competitiveness and called for a thorough reassessment of language policies post-election. Pan highlighted the importance of English and digital literacy as vital competencies for students and stressed the necessity of the bilingual policy for English language education. He mentioned that the implementation of the policy allows schools to join gradually and includes plans for teacher training enhancements and the inclusion of foreign instructors. Pan also mentioned that Mandarin courses would be available alongside university courses conducted entirely in English to give students the freedom of choice. He noted that some locales have been overly emphasizing English expertise during teacher recruitment and that the Ministry of Education will issue reminders for a more balanced evaluation. Rolling revisions will be made based on the progress of the bilingual initiative.2023/12/07 21:17 -
Taiwan’s bilingual policy under scrutiny
Taiwan has set an ambitious goal to become a bilingual nation by 2030. However, experts and local groups are questioning its feasibility and raising concerns about potential drawbacks.2023/06/08 18:37 -
Group demands gov’t to stop bilingual education
student group expressed opposition to Taiwan’s bilingual education policy on Monday (May 15), amid the country’s aim to become a bilingual nation by 2030.2023/05/15 19:19