President-elect Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) has promised to allow Chinese students to enroll in Taiwanese universities. Given Taiwan’s education system, it may be unwise to undertake such a policy lightly. Ma has stated that many private universities have trouble attracting students and hopes to open up enrollment to students from China. However, the real problem can be found at the core of the education system.
A high-quality education system is pyramidal, but Taiwan’s is wide all around, making for an abnormal system. Since nearly everyone can enter college or obtain a graduate degree, what is the point of distinguishing between middle and high-level education? During the presidential election debates, Democratic Progressive Party candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) said that schools or departments that do not make the grade should be eliminated. This makes sense, because failing to meet standards means failing to uphold educational obligations. In that case, why should the money that taxpayers provide for education be allocated to such schools?
Quite a few private universities and even some public universities that receive public funding have been increasing their tuition rates. The reason for this is that there are too many schools, which has resulted in fewer funds available for each school. Consequently, they find themselves short of money.
Another question that needs to be asked is whether students who attend degree “factory” schools are really serious about their education. In most cases, probably not. Why, therefore, should educational funds be used for them? Would it not be more useful to allocate these funds to help Taiwanese universities break into the world’s top 100?
Furthermore, does a college education mean that one’s salary will be higher than that of someone who attended a vocational school? Not necessarily.
If this is not the case, then why invest in a college education? The answer, in short, is that we are afraid of not being able to get a job. In the past, a high-school degree was sufficient for applying for a job. Nowadays, you need to be a college graduate.
Let us hope, therefore, that Ma will take Hsieh’s ideas into consideration because our dysfunctional educational system is already starting to have a negative influence on the economic issue of employment.
Education is not necessarily the only means to ensure one’s future. Regardless of the profession one chooses, there is always a chance that outstanding results will be obtained. The biggest disgrace for Chinese was the Song Dynasty-era concept that “only the educated are of esteem. Everyone else is inferior.”
What happens if children are struggling with their studies? Does this mean that their future is doomed? This concept must be changed and we should not place so much pressure on children. Instead of forcing them to study, would it not be better to allow them to learn different skills and abilities that would help them later on in life?
To change this type of thinking, low-quality schools and departments must be weeded out. This would help highlight the strengths and advantages of Taiwan’s educational system and encourage students who are unable to obtain the results they need to get accepted into higher-level schools to learn more diverse skills that will help them find jobs in future.
The influence of education stretches long and deep. However, Taiwan’s education system in its current form leaves students in fear and unable to make a future of their own.
In addition to his “i-Taiwan 12 projects” and “6-3-3” economic policy, the most important thing for Ma will be to find ways to rectify our defunct education system.
Tony Huang is a business major at Shu-te University.
TRANSLATED BY JAMES CHEN
It is almost three years since Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) and Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a friendship with “no limits” — weeks before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Since then, they have retreated from such rhetorical enthusiasm. The “no limits” language was quickly dumped, probably at Beijing’s behest. When Putin visited China in May last year, he said that he and his counterpart were “as close as brothers.” Xi more coolly called the Russian president “a good friend and a good neighbor.” China has conspicuously not reciprocated Putin’s description of it as an ally. Yet the partnership
The ancient Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu (孫子) said “know yourself and know your enemy and you will win a hundred battles.” Applied in our times, Taiwanese should know themselves and know the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) so that Taiwan will win a hundred battles and hopefully, deter the CCP. Taiwanese receive information daily about the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) threat from the Ministry of National Defense and news sources. One area that needs better understanding is which forces would the People’s Republic of China (PRC) use to impose martial law and what would be the consequences for living under PRC
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) said that he expects this year to be a year of “peace.” However, this is ironic given the actions of some KMT legislators and politicians. To push forward several amendments, they went against the principles of legislation such as substantive deliberation, and even tried to remove obstacles with violence during the third readings of the bills. Chu says that the KMT represents the public interest, accusing President William Lai (賴清德) and the Democratic Progressive Party of fighting against the opposition. After pushing through the amendments, the KMT caucus demanded that Legislative Speaker
Beijing’s approval of a controversial mega-dam in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo River — which flows from Tibet — has ignited widespread debate over its strategic and environmental implications. The project exacerbates the complexities of India-China relations, and underscores Beijing’s push for hydropower dominance and potential weaponization of water against India. India and China are caught in a protracted territorial dispute along the Line of Actual Control. The approval of a dam on a transboundary river adds another layer to an already strained bilateral relationship, making dialogue and trust-building even more challenging, especially given that the two Asian
RSS