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- What is the structure of the educational system in Taiwan?
A wide range of educational options is available to ROC citizens. Children in Taiwan can attend preschool in public or private kindergartens. At the age of six, children begin nine years of mandatory education: six years in elementary school and three years in junior high school. Junior high graduates, at 15 years of age, may choose to either enter the work force or transfer to senior high school, senior vocational school, or a five-year college by application, recommendation and selection, or through examination. Senior high school and senior vocational school cover three years.
Senior high school is usually the first choice for students planning to enter college or university. Of the 336,893 junior high graduates in school year 1999, 131,629 entered senior high schools, 118,583 went to senior vocational schools, 24,461 studied at supplementary schools, 32,093 went directly into five-year junior colleges (which also cover a student's senior high-school years), and 14,323 attended the Practical Technical Program. Only 4.69 percent of the students who completed their nine years of compulsory education did not continue their schooling.
Graduates from junior colleges may continue their education by entering two-year institutes of technology. Senior vocational school graduates may pursue advanced studies in the sciences at either two-year junior colleges or four-year institutes of technology.
Most senior high school graduates take the competitive Joint University Entrance Exam for admission to one of the 53 universities, 74 independent colleges, and 23 junior colleges in Taiwan. The majority of the undergraduate programs in Taiwan last for four years. College and university graduates may apply to graduate school after passing an entrance exam. The length of study for graduate programs varies from one to four years for a master's degree and two to seven years for a doctorate degree.
- What alternative educational opportunities are available?
Alternatives to the mainstream education include supplementary and adult education. Students receive certificates upon graduation, and have the opportunity to receive a diploma equivalent to one in the mainstream system, if they pass an examination.
Supplementary education can be divided into compulsory, advanced, and short-term. The compulsory program is a type of formal education for adults and includes elementary through junior high school courses. The advanced program enrolls students into either senior high school, vocational school, junior college, or college. The short-term program covers general and technical educational courses.
At the top of the supplementary system is the National Open University, which offers classes in liberal arts, social sciences, and business via radio and television. Admission is granted to senior high and vocational school graduates, as well as to non-high school graduates with diplomas of the equivalent level. A bachelor's degree is awarded upon graduation.
- What are cram schools?
There are two types of cram schools. The first consists of private supplementary schools preparing students for the senior high school and university entrance examinations. Junior and senior high graduates who fail the entrance examinations or are not admitted to their choice of schools often choose to study for another year in cram schools. A large number of students attend classes at such schools to gain academic assistance in general subjects. In addition to those cram schools that help students pass the entrance examinations, others specialize in such subjects as foreign languages, children's classes, civil service exams, TOEFL, and other exams required for study abroad. As of the end of May 2001, there were 8,666 cram schools registered with the government. A much larger number operate without licenses. Since cram schools fulfill a definite need in Taiwan's educational system, the government is exercising closer supervision of their safety and educational standards.
- What type of education is available to the mentally and
physically disabled?
Taiwan has special schools for the blind, the deaf, and the mentally and physically handicapped. For the most part, these schools are run by the government in parallel with the mainstream educational system, from preschool through senior vocational school. Three special schools offer education for the blind, four for the deaf, nine for the mentally disabled, one for the physically disabled, and six for students with learning problems. The regular school system also has specialists teaching classes for students with speech, sight, or learning disabilities.
- What are the advanced research institutions in Taiwan?
Academia Sinica, under the direct jurisdiction of the Office of the President, is the leading research institution in Taiwan. It conducts scientific research itself while directing, coordinating, and promoting scientific research throughout Taiwan. Academia Sinica presently comprises 19 research institutes, which specialize in such fields as biological chemistry, history and philology, European and American studies, economics, ethnology, molecular biology, physics, and zoology. Academia Sinica is preparing to set up six additional research institutes.
Academia Historica is also under the direct jurisdiction of the Office of the President. It is responsible for preserving national archives and conducting research into modern Chinese history, particularly that of the Republican period.
The Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research is a non-profit independent research institute. It studies national and international economies and subjects of specific concern for the government.
The Taiwan Institute of Economic Research was the first private research institute set up in Taiwan. Its goal is to study national and international economies and provide economic and industrial information to the government and the private sector.
The Taiwan Forestry Research Institute maintains research stations in different parts of Taiwan to manage experimental forests and carry out field experiments on pest control, cultivation of commercial tree species, and aromatic crops.
- Where can non-native speakers study Chinese in Taiwan?
Taiwan's modern lifestyle and emphasis on education and internationalization make it the ideal place to study Chinese. There are many commercial language schools. For information about government-approved programs for Mandarin studies, please visit the Chinese Language Center List web page of the Department of International Cultural and Educational Relations under the Ministry of Education.
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