The National Teachers Association (NTA) yesterday said it had high expectations of new Minister of Education Wu Ching-chi (吳清基) and urged him to resist “inappropriate interference.”
The association said that local government chiefs have been abusing their authority by interfering in educational affairs.
“For example, some local administrative chiefs opposed a decree by the central government and required that junior high and elementary schools adopt the same textbook version for each subject. They also used their own high school entrance examinations [rather than those designed by the ministry],” the association said in a press release.
Over the past five years as director-general of the city’s Department of Education, Wu has promoted a policy of standardized textbooks.
The decision, however, was counter to the Ministry of Education’s policy that invites schools to choose their own textbooks to encourage diversity. The city government’s move has been controversial and caused friction between the central and local governments.
“The NTA expects Minister Wu to insist on the policy of the Ministry of Education and help Taiwan’s education get back on the right track,” the association said.
Wu said on Thursday he would not promote Taipei’s standardized textbooks policy nationwide, adding that schools at the national level would be allowed to choose their own textbooks as long as the books follow ministry guidelines.
The association called on the minister to pay attention to the quality of higher education, adding that the ministry should review its budget and ask for more resources for the next fiscal year.
Meanwhile, Wang Chun-chuan (王俊權), director-general of the ministry’s Department of Physical Education, said the ministry intended to amend a law to grant educational stipends to athletes who perform well in international sports events hosted by the country.
At present, the ministry provides subsidies of between NT$25,000 and NT$55,000 per person to Taiwanese athletes who excel at the Olympic Games or Asia Games.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY CNA
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