On the 1st of July, Lin Shih-Ying, Director of the Education Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan attended the Japan–Taiwan Education Review Forum in Yamaguchi Prefecture.

The forum was hosted by the National Teachers’ Federation of Japan, with the assistance of the Yamaguchi Teacher’s Union. Forty-two people participated: 19 members of the Taiwan Provincial Education Association, 17 members of the Yamaguchi Teacher’s Union, three delegates from the National Teachers’ Federation of Japan, one delegate from the Tokushima Teacher’s Union, and two delegates from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan.

Director Lin thanked everyone for their attendance and emphasized the importance of the close cooperation between Japan and Taiwan, because it leads to opportunities like this forum, that allow more educational views to be exchanged.Director Lin mentioned that this year is the 150th anniversary of the Meiji Restoration, something related to the forum. Japan’s Meiji Restoration began in Yamaguchi Prefecture, and education was one of its most important establishments. Director Lin commented that in our current time we need to appreciate the importance of letting students receive moral education, and of teaching students about giving back to their society and their country.

A Memorandum of Understanding on International Education Exchanges was also signed during the forum, between the Taiwan Provincial Education Association and the National Teachers’ Federation of Japan. The core focus of the MOU is to strengthen the educational relationship between Taiwan and Japan and promote exchanges of teachers and information.

Photo:Gunji Takafumi, Chairman of the National Teachers’ Federation of Japan (left), and Chien Ming-Chung, Director of the Taiwan Provincial Education Association, with the just-signed MOU on International Education Exchanges.