Educational System

In Taiwan’s current educational system, students may study for up to 20 years, which includes six years of primary school, three years of junior high school, three years of senior high school, four years for a bachelor’s degree, one to four years for a master’s degree, and two to seven years for a doctoral degree.

■Preschool Education

    In the past, preschool education consisted of “kindergartens” and “child care centers,” which were under the jurisdiction of different authorities. Since 2012, kindergartens and child care centers have been consolidated into “preschool,” and children from the age of two to pre-elementary school are able to receive comprehensive education and care. The integration of preschool education and care into a single administrative system allows for a strategy that centers on children and prioritizes their welfare.

■Compulsory Education

The nine-year compulsory education system, of which six years are for primary education and three years are for junior high school, was put into effect in SY1968. In order to offer more diverse development opportunities for junior high school students, technical education is included as well, in addition to the regular curriculum. Practical classes allow students to better understand vocational education and their future career choices.

■Senior High School Education

Senior high school education consists of three years of schooling and includes “general senior high schools,” “vocational senior high schools,” “comprehensive senior high schools,” and “specialty-based senior high schools.”

■Junior College Education

    Junior college education can be classified according to admission requirements into five-year junior colleges and two-year junior colleges. Five-year junior colleges admit graduates of junior high schools, whereas two-year junior colleges admit graduates of vocational senior high schools.

■Teacher Education

    Teacher training is comprised of diversified, well-resourced selection methods. Teachers in preschools, primary schools, junior high schools, and senior high schools are trained in universities that cultivate teachers. These institutions are also responsible for providing professional development and guidance for local educators. As of February 1, 2018, the training of teachers uses qualification tests before participating in internships and selects a necessary number of candidates with just the right qualities.

■University, College and Graduate School Education

    The maximum study period for bachelor’s degree candidates, including universities, colleges, universities of science and technology, and technical colleges is four years, except for the two-year bachelor’s degree program. Internships can last half a year to two years depending on the needs of the subject. For master’s degree candidates, the study period is limited to one to four years, and two to seven years for doctoral degree candidates.

■Special Education

    Pre-tertiary level special education is divided into three stages: preschool, compulsory, and senior high school. They provide special education at corresponding stages, and schools providing them may set up special education classes. Independent special education schools may also be built to accommodate students with multiple disabilities that require special support. To best meet special education students’ needs, the stages, class arrangements, grades, settings and ways of implementing education, courses, teaching materials, and teaching and assessment methods must always remain flexible. Adaptability, individualization, socialization, accessibility, and inclusion must also all be part of special education provision and associated service measures.

■Arts Education

    The goals of arts education are to cultivate artistic talent, enrich the spiritual lives of citizens, and elevate culture. Arts education in Taiwan can be divided into Professional arts education offered at schools, General arts education offered at schools, and Arts education offered to the public.

■Supplementary Education

    Supplementary education aims to increase citizens’ factual knowledge about life, raise educational attainment, transfer practical skills, cultivate sound citizens, and help society to progress. It offers supplementary compulsory education, supplementary advanced education, and short-term tutorial education: all citizens who are past school age but have not received the nine years of basic education shall receive supplementary compulsory education. Citizens who did receive the nine-year basic education may receive supplementary advanced education. Those who wish to improve their factual knowledge and life skills can also receive short-term tutorial education.

■Experimental Education

    To encourage educational innovation, in 2014 Taiwan enacted three laws governing its implementation. Schools can become schools providing school-based experimental education, and private entities can be commissioned to operate senior high and lower level public schools and provide experimental education in accordance with specific educational philosophies and develop programs without being subject to the constraints of the curriculum guidelines. Waldorf education is an example.

    As well as education provided by schools, at senior high and lower level, non-school-based experimental education is an alternative to education. This may be in the form of individual experimental education, group-based experimental education, or institution-based experimental education. Graduates of experimental education programs receive a graduation diploma, or a certificate of completion of experimental education at the senior high level, documents that they will require to proceed to the next formal education stage.