Overview of Education System
The government of Taiwan has adopted a centralized educational administration system that specifies national standards for curricula and national level assessment (e.g., use of the Comprehensive Assessment Program results for senior high school placement and college entrance examinations). All schools in Taiwan adhere to the national curriculum standards, use approved textbooks, and prepare students to pass college entrance examinations.
The education system in Taiwan encompasses basic, intermediate, advanced, and returning education. Basic education includes kindergarten, primary school, and junior high school. Intermediate education includes senior high school and vocational education. Advanced education includes junior college, university, and graduate school. Returning education refers to schools for continuing and supplementary education. Special education is provided at all levels for students with physical and mental disabilities.
Since 1968, a nine year compulsory education program for basic education (primary and junior high school) has been in place, with basic education divided into three levels: Level One (Grades 1 to 3), Level Two (Grades 4 to 6), and Level Three (Grades 7 to 9). Children begin Grade 1 when they turn age 6. In 2015, Taiwan’s basic education was extended from 9 to 12 years to include senior high school. A new curriculum is being developed for implementation in 2018.5
Senior high schools and senior vocational schools provide intermediate education above the junior high school level, both requiring three years to complete. Students at the senior high school level take courses that prepare them for a college or university education. Senior vocational schools offer courses in areas such as agriculture, industry, business, marine products, nursing, home economics, drama, and art.
Junior colleges fall into two categories: five year junior colleges and two year junior colleges. Five year junior colleges admit junior high school graduates, while two year junior colleges admit senior vocational high school graduates. University programs typically require four years of study; however, students have the flexibility to fulfill their requirements in three to six years. Specialized undergraduate programs (e.g., dentistry and medicine) require six to seven years of study, including a one year internship period. Graduate programs leading to a master’s or doctoral degree require one to four years and two to seven years, respectively. Students entering graduate school as part of on the job training may be granted an extension if they are unable to finish the required courses or complete their thesis or dissertation in time.
Returning education provides citizens with an alternative means of achieving their educational goals. Returning education is classified into three main categories: basic education, advanced study, and short term supplementary education. A wide variety of courses is offered in returning education, involving different levels of difficulty and varying in duration according to the individual curriculum. Returning education courses include literacy education, cooking, pottery, flower arrangement, economics, Chinese or Western philosophy, and psychology.
In addition to compulsory education, most of Taiwan’s young children attend kindergarten and daycare programs, around 60 percent of which are privately owned. To ensure that every child receives proper care and education, financial support for preprimary education is available from the government for 5-year-old children.