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Taiwan struggles to implement swimming lessons in schools
Despite Taiwan’s mandate for swimming lessons in schools, only Taipei and New Taipei have achieved full implementation, while other cities face facility shortages and high maintenance costs.
2024/09/17 08:00
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Taiwan shines at WorldSkills in France with 43 awards
Discover how Taiwan achieved its best performance in three years at the WorldSkills Competition in France, winning 43 awards with an 86% success rate. Learn about the talents and categories that led to this remarkable success.
2024/09/16 13:52
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Taiwan high schools to offer mental health leave this year
Discover Taiwan’s new initiative allowing students three days of mental health leave per semester, starting this academic year, amid concerns from the National Federation of Teachers Unions about potential school disruptions.
2024/08/27 16:22
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More Hong Kong, Macau students work in Taiwan post-grad
Discover how Hong Kong and Macau students are increasingly choosing to work in Taiwan post-graduation, with a 30.42% rise from 2021 to May 2024. Learn about the sectors they’re entering and the government’s supportive policies.
2024/07/18 14:34
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Taiwan debates raising school counselor salaries
Explore the push for better pay for school counselors in Taiwan as legislators discuss amending the Student Guidance and Counseling Act to address high turnover rates and ensure students receive consistent support.
2024/07/11 14:11
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Taiwan begins mental health days for high school students
Discover how Taiwan’s Ministry of Education is prioritizing student well-being by introducing "mental and physical adjustment leave" in high schools, aiming to support mental health.
2024/07/03 10:01
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Taiwan’s elementary enrollment to drop below 1M by 2029
Discover how Taiwan’s Ministry of Education plans to tackle the challenge of declining student enrollment, with projections showing a drop below one million by 2029. Learn about the strategies for enhancing education quality and the implications for schools.
2024/06/24 10:13
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Taipei expands free HPV vaccinations to include boys
Starting September 1, Taipei will extend its free HPV vaccination program to junior high school boys, aiming for a 70% vaccination rate with initiatives including school tours and educational sessions on vaccine safety and benefits.
2024/05/31 16:55
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Liou Jia High School to end junior high enrollment by 2026
Discover how Hsinchu County’s Liou Jia Senior High School is set to transform into a full senior high by 2028, following a decision to halt junior high enrollments from 2026. This move, aimed at optimizing educational resources, marks a significant shift in the region’s educational landscape.
2024/05/23 15:29
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Tech studies surge in popularity among Taiwan’s students
Explore the shifting landscape of Taiwan’s higher education in 2023, as revealed by the Ministry of Education’s latest statistics. Discover the significant rise in technology students, the decline in humanities enrolment, and the overall decrease in student numbers due to a falling birth rate. Uncover the trends in high school education and the changing dynamics in STEM fields, highlighting the evolving priorities and challenges in Taiwan’s academic sector.
2024/05/06 18:03
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Hsiao Bi-khim shares heartfelt return to alma mater
Vice President-elect Hsiao Bi-khim returns to National Tainan Girls’ Senior High School for an alumni association election and a special entrance ceremony, reflecting on her academic journey and connection to the school she once could not attend.
2024/04/29 14:35
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Taiwan’s schools go co-ed to combat declining birthrates
Discover how Taiwan’s private girls’ high schools are transitioning to co-ed institutions to address the country’s declining birthrate and prepare a new generation for future demographic challenges.
2024/04/25 17:44
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Taiwan’s MOE ends independent university admissions in 2024
Stay informed about Taiwan’s Ministry of Education’s recent revision of the ’Regulations for the Individual Recruitment of Universities’ impacting university admissions. Learn about the changes affecting private high schools and exceptions for religious, artistic, and athletic sectors. Discover how this update will impact institutions like CTBC Business School, Kainan University, and Huafan University.
2024/03/06 18:19
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Taiwan high schools to pilot mental health leave program
The Ministry of Education in Taipei launches a pilot program offering mental health leave for high school students, requiring parental consent and limiting leave to three days per semester. Universities have already implemented similar measures.
2024/02/17 14:44
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Keelung partners with UC Berkeley for remote courses
Keelung City Mayor George Hsieh has announced a collaboration with the University of California, Berkeley to offer a remote course for high school students in Keelung. Out of 249 applicants, 30 students will be selected for the program, which will begin next month. This initiative is part of Hsieh’s plan to promote academic excellence locally and he aims to introduce more courses in 2024 to provide Keelung’s top high schoolers with high-quality international education. The selected students will participate in a course focused on the autonomous vehicle industry, learning programming in Python and various algorithms. Classes will be held twice weekly from February 24 to March 24 at the city hall briefing room. Upon completion, students will receive a certificate of completion from UC Berkeley. This collaboration aims to encourage local education and retain talented students in Keelung.
2024/01/29 17:08
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Hou Yu-ih unveils plan to combat school violence
Kuomintang (KMT) Presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih presents a four-point plan to address school violence, criticizing the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration’s social safety net. The plan includes stricter regulations, preventive education, enhanced security checks, and tougher punishments for gang intrusions. Hou’s response comes after a high school student in New Taipei City was slashed in the neck, putting campus security under scrutiny. He questions the effectiveness of the government’s Social Safety Net 2.0 plan and calls for revisions to regulations. Tung Yao-tsung, president of the New Taipei City Parents’ Association, supports Hou’s stance and urges the Ministry of Education to focus on an intermediary education system to improve school security. Retired teacher Wang Chiung-yuan emphasizes the need for a balanced approach that considers the rights of all students.
2024/01/04 18:20
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NEU calls on Taiwan’s MOE to remedy school safety measures
The National Federation of Education Unions (NEU) has called on Taiwan’s Ministry of Education (MOE) to take full responsibility for incidents like the recent student stabbing in New Taipei City. The NEU insists on changes to improve the current situation and prevent students from bringing prohibited items to school. The NEU believes that amendments made by the MOE have unfairly disempowered teachers, as many schools struggle to address students who bring banned items due to fear of backlash or being accused of bullying. NEU President Lin Shuo-chieh pointed out that teachers are hesitant to correct and punish behavior out of fear of being accused of "targeting" students or being reported for bullying. In 2022, the MOE amended regulations on the management of dangerous items carried by students. According to Article 28, unless explicitly stated by law or sufficient evidence suggests the student is involved in criminal activity or carries banned items, their bodies and belongings are not to be searched. Article 29 states that for high school inspections, two or more representatives of parents, student council members, or teachers must be present to examine students’ belongings or spaces. Lin claimed that the MOE’s rules are difficult for grassroots teachers to implement and can easily be twisted into accusations of bullying. He urged the MOE and local education departments to redefine regulations for handling protected students in order to prevent further deterioration of campus safety and safeguard the rights of other students.
2023/12/27 16:34
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Education Dept. confirms death of stabbed student
A junior high school student in New Taipei City has tragically died after being stabbed by another student. The victim suffered five knife wounds to his neck and lungs, despite receiving emergency treatment at the hospital. The incident occurred after a female student, who felt rebuked by the victim, recruited a male student to retaliate. The victim was stabbed twice in the lungs and neck, resulting in significant blood loss. Speculation of his death was confirmed by the Education Department. Following this incident, the department has pledged to strengthen measures to ensure student safety, including dispatching counselors and social workers for follow-up guidance and collaboration with police agencies. The Education Department is also providing support to the victim’s family through legal consultation and coordination with relevant departments. Additionally, efforts will be made to enhance teachers’ campus security capabilities.
2023/12/27 10:45
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Hsiao Bi-khim reassures students on Taiwan-U.S. relations
DPP vice presidential candidate Hsiao Bi-khim reassures students in Hsinchu City that protecting Taiwan’s democratic freedom is in the mutual interest of Taiwan and the United States. She addresses concerns about the history of Chiang Kai-shek’s pro-American stance and Donald Trump’s seemingly unfriendly attitude toward Taiwan. Hsiao emphasizes the importance of promoting Taiwan-U.S. relations with Taiwan at the heart of the process, identifying mutual benefits to strengthen Taiwan. She states that her approach in Washington would not interfere with or comment on the competition between U.S. parties, but rather focus on maintaining Taiwanese interests. Hsiao acknowledges that while Trump may use certain political language, as long as cooperation between Taiwan and the U.S. continues and Taiwanese interests are protected, it would be sufficient. The discussion also touches on concerns about subsidies for private high schools, with Hsiao emphasizing the importance of educational equity and Lai Ching-te’s intention to work towards making senior high school education free.
2023/12/26 20:20
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Lai Ching-te pledges unity, safety in presidential bid
DPP presidential candidate Lai Ching-te has proposed a comprehensive national vision, emphasizing unity, safety, and cross-strait cooperation based on mutual respect if elected. Lai aims to establish a transparent government by combating corruption, including illegal drugs and arms dealing, fraud, and embezzlement. He also plans to boost Taiwan’s economy by supporting the growth of small and medium enterprises in high-tech industries. Lai is committed to education equity, with plans to waive high school and vocational school fees and provide financial aid to private university students. He also pledges to improve long-term care facilities and services through the implementation of Long-term Care 3.0. Lai and his running mate, Hsiao Bi-khim, are dedicated to caring for the people, protecting Taiwan’s security, and advancing its development.
2023/12/26 20:06
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Ed. Bureau Director visits victim of campus knife attack
The director of the New Taipei City Education Bureau, Chang Ming-wen, changed his plans to visit a middle school student at the Far Eastern Memorial Hospital after the student was attacked on campus. The student, from a junior high school in Tucheng District, is in intensive care with serious injuries from a throat-slashing incident. The attack occurred when a male student confronted a female student during lunchtime, leading to verbal and physical assault. The male student used a folding knife to inflict multiple wounds on the victim, causing severe blood loss and cardiac arrest. The school principal stated that the altercation stemmed from discontentment with noise during lunch break. Police are investigating whether there were previous tensions between the students involved. The Education Bureau has prioritized the victim’s recovery and provided full medical assistance, as well as support to the family. Supervisors, social workers, and psychologists were dispatched to the school for assistance, and preliminary counseling has been offered to the students involved. The bureau has also called for increased attention to the affected students and enhanced campus security to ensure their physical and psychological safety.
2023/12/26 10:36
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Chiang Wan-an lauds TFG for 120 years of women’s education
Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an expresses gratitude to Taipei First Girls High School (TFG) for nurturing generations of remarkable women on the occasion of the school’s 120th anniversary. Chiang attends the unveiling ceremony of the newly restored Kuang Fu Building, a historic landmark on the TFG campus. The Taipei City Government contributes over NT$100 million to support the restoration project. Chiang recalls his previous visit to TFG, where he interacted with the TFG Honor Guard and Marching Band. He humorously mentions that as a student at Taipei Municipal Jianguo High School, he admired TFG from outside its gates, but now as mayor, he can visit and engage with the school. Chiang also highlights a collaboration between TFG and EasyCard Corporation, resulting in a commemorative ’TFG 120th Green Uniform EasyCard’ that plays the school’s anthem upon use. EasyCard Corporation will donate 10% of the cards’ revenue to charity. TFG’s anniversary activities attract a diverse group of alumnae, including those from 70 years ago and mother-daughter pairs, as well as alumnae from Chiang’s own graduation year.
2023/12/12 19:54
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Ex-KMT legislator Tsai defends classical Chinese in schools
Former Kuomintang (KMT) legislator Alex Tsai advocates for the inclusion of classical Chinese literature in education, suggesting that it should be part of university entrance exams. Tsai cites the University of Tokyo as an example, where classical Chinese content is included in the national language exams. He argues that studying these classics can enhance language skills and cultural refinement. Tsai criticizes the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and pro-independence forces for neglecting the value of classical Chinese and accuses them of attempting to "de-sinicize" Taiwan’s education system. Critics argue that education should prioritize critical thinking and note that the DPP has retained a significant portion of classical Chinese content in the curriculum. They emphasize the need for a comprehensive understanding of the curriculum’s core principles and content to advance Taiwan’s educational progress.
2023/12/12 17:44
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Hou slams Lai for neglecting academia in ’108 Curriculum’
Kuomintang (KMT) presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih criticizes Democratic Progressive Party candidate Lai Ching-te for disregarding the concerns of industry and academia amid controversies surrounding the 108 curriculum. Hou accuses Lai of prioritizing electoral politics over addressing the weakening of basic subjects in schools and the pressure of academic advancement, which he believes will harm Taiwan’s industries. Hou expresses concern over the decline in academic performance of basic subjects among university students and highlights the dissatisfaction of high school teachers regarding the removal of classical Chinese literature from the curriculum. Hou pledges to reconvene the National Education Conference to address the issues arising from the 108 curriculum if elected and calls on Lai to engage with the controversy rather than avoiding it or exploiting generational divides for political gain.
2023/12/11 20:05
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KMT’s Jaw decries campus access inequity for campaign
Jaw Shau-kong, the Kuomintang (KMT) vice-presidential candidate, criticized the lack of access to university campuses for his campaign activities, claiming that this privilege was given to the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) before his candidacy. He was previously invited to speak at National Tsing Hua University, National Chiao Tung University, and Chinese Culture University, but these engagements were later canceled by the universities. Jaw believes that nurturing university students’ interest in democracy is important and plans to speak at various higher education institutions, aiming to facilitate exchanges with students from at least five schools. His first campus speech will take place at his alma mater, Taichung First Senior High School. KMT presidential nominee Hou Yu-ih and DPP rival Lai Ching-te have also engaged with the student electorate, participating in youth forums and delivering speeches at various universities. People First Party presidential candidate Ko Wen-je has also been invited to speak at universities, highlighting the trend of presidential and vice-presidential hopefuls engaging with students across Taiwan.
2023/12/09 16:14