The magazine Global Views Monthly recently published a major survey on the 12-year compulsory education system. It showed that 70 percent of parents were in favor of it, but over 50 percent of them thought that removing the entrance exam and instead looking at academic results would increase the pressure of schoolwork on children. Almost 50 percent of parents would choose to increase the time their children spent in cram schools. The monthly expense for supplementary education is estimated to be almost NT$7,000 per child. Once 12-year compulsory education is implemented, there are fears that this cost might increase.
Less than 40 percent of families with children between seven and 12 years old said they wanted their children to attend the senior high school in their school district, while 32 percent said they would let the children decide. Around 14 percent would move their children’s household registration to a district with a reputable senior high school. In addition, close to 20 percent would register their children in private senior high schools with high university enrolment rates.
Sixty-seven percent of children under the age of 12 attend cram schools. The average sum spent on supplementary education is NT$6,950. For households with incomes less than NT$40,000, monthly spending on children’s supplementary education exceeds NT$5,700.
Photo: Wang Min-wei, Liberty Times 自由時報記者王敏為攝
Global Views Monthly made this survey between Feb. 11 and 17 by random phone interviews to 823 people. The estimated margin of error is plus or minus 3.4 percent.
The National Alliance of Parents Organization (NAPO) suggests that enrolment in universities based on academic results would result in more students going to cram schools, and that since there are plans to let children enroll in schools without taking an exam, academic results should not be taken into account. NAPO also stressed that the survey results are a reflection of the fact that a majority of parents still view the 12-year compulsory education system based on traditional views with an excessive focus on moving on to higher education, and that the Ministry of Educations (MOE) promotion of the new system is insufficient.
The National Teachers’ Association (NTA) said the survey shows the superstitious belief in cram schools among parents.
In response, the MOE said the 12-year compulsory education system has a complete set of complimentary programs once implemented. It is aimed at reducing the pressure on students of entering higher education, and it will also take account of parental concerns. A draft of the plan will be published around August, and it is scheduled to be implemented in 2014.
(LIBERTY TIMES, TRANSLATED BY TAIJING WU)
《遠見雜誌》最近公布十二年國民義務教育大調查結果，七成家長表態支持，但超過五成認為如果少了基測，改採在校成績，反而增加孩子的課業壓力。近五成家長會選擇增加孩子補習時間，目前每個小孩估計每月補習費近新台幣七千元，實施十二年國教後，補習費恐再增加。
家有七到十二歲的學童家長中，不到四成的受訪者表示，會配合政府十二年國教政策，讓孩子去唸學區內高中；三成二讓小孩自己決定，一成四左右則會把小孩戶口遷到明星高中學區內。此外，近二成家長會讓小孩去唸升學率高的私立高中。
台灣十二歲以下學童有補習比率達六成七，平均每個月補習費達新台幣六千九百零五元，家庭收入新台幣四萬元以下，每月也要花費新台幣五千七百多元。
遠見雜誌是在今年二月十一日到十七日，針對台灣家有十二歲以下小孩的父母，以電話訪問隨機跳號的方式，共訪問八百廿三人，誤差值為正負百分之三．四。
全國家長團體聯盟認為，採計在校成績一定會增加補習風氣，既然要推動免試入學，就不應該看在校成績。全家盟也強調，遠見的調查結果反映，大多數家長還是以傳統升學主義心態來看待十二年國教，教育部宣導不足。
全國教師會認為，這項調查凸顯台灣家長迷信補習。
教育部則回應，十二年國教實施時有整套的配套方案，目標在紓緩升學壓力，會考慮家長擔憂，將在八月左右公告草案，預計二零一四年起實施。
（自由時報記者林曉雲、胡清暉）
Global coffee prices have soared to their highest in nearly 50 years due to poor weather in Brazil and Vietnam, forcing roasters such as Nestle to raise prices and consumers to hunt for cheaper brews amid the cost of living crisis. Spiking prices will benefit farmers with the crop this year, but challenge traders who face crippling hedging costs on exchanges and a scramble to receive the beans they pre-bought. WHAT DRIVES PRICES? Production problems linked to bad weather in Brazil and Vietnam have seen global supplies lagging demand for three years. That has left stocks depleted and driven benchmark ICE exchange prices
The vast ocean stages countless miracles of life, but none are quite as awe-inspiring as the phenomenon of a “whale fall.” When a giant whale reaches the end of its life, its immense body gently descends and eventually lands in the inky abyss. This moment, which might seem like the end, ignites a burst of new life on the ocean floor. Deep beneath the ocean’s surface, where sunlight is unable to venture and nutrients are scarce, a whale fall is like an oasis in a barren landscape. Over decades, even centuries, the remains of a single whale can sustain thousands of
A: I love December. There are always so many concerts to attend at the end of the year. B: I just went to Bigbang member Tae-yang’s Taipei concert last weekend, and it was awesome. A: And I went to the weekend concerts at Christmasland in New Taipei City, featuring Tae-yang’s wife Hyo-lyn and various artists. B: Taiwanese superstars A-mei, Mayday, and Hong Kong superstar Aaron Kwok will also stage shows starting this week. A: It’s so hard to decide. Which one do you want to go to? A: 我好喜歡12月，因為每到年底總有許多演唱會！ B: 我上週才剛去過BigBang太陽的台北演唱會，超精彩。 A: 我也剛去過新北歡樂耶誕城的演唱會，太陽的老婆孝琳還有來表演唷。 B: 台灣天后阿妹、天團五月天、香港天王郭富城等巨星的演唱會從本週起也將陸續開唱。 A: 真難決定，你想去哪一場？ （By Eddy Chang,
電視節目畫面底下常會出現橫條滑動的「新聞跑馬燈」文字，顯示最新發生的新聞，這英文叫 chyron 或 news ticker。「新聞跑馬燈」是 1970 年代 Chyron 公司為廣播業研發的滑動圖案文字顯示器，因此廣播新聞業就把它稱為 chyron。 Merriam-Webster 對 chyron 的定義如下： chyron / ?ka? r?n/ : a caption superimposed over usually the lower part of a video image (as during a news broadcast) 台灣的讀者對 chyron 這詞可能很陌生，但據 Merriam-Webster 的統計，這詞算是常用詞，普及程度是 “Top 30% of words”，台灣的讀者會覺得令人難以置信。不過若就新聞英語而言，chyron 無疑的是經常出現，就以底下這則 CNN 跑馬燈新聞報導為例：川普總統手拿聖經，走往白宮附近一座教堂供媒體拍照，和平示威人士遭噴催淚瓦斯驅散。 CNN chyron: “PEACEFUL PROTESTERS NEAR WHITE HOUSE GASSED, SHOT WITH RUBBER BULLETS SO TRUMP CAN HAVE CHURCH PHOTO-OP” CNN 新聞跑馬燈：白宮附近和平示威人士遭發射催淚瓦斯 及橡膠子彈。 (June 1, 2020) 2018 年初，美國聯邦政府差點停擺事件前，也出現以下報導： “U.S. Government Hours Away From Shutdown,” heralded the chyron. 新聞跑馬燈預告：美國聯邦政府即將「停擺」 (Vanity Fair , January 19, 2018) 下次看到 chyron 這個字時，多看它一眼，它可是新聞裡常出現的詞彙呢！ 防疫必備詞彙：疫情新聞詞彙 宿主 host 中間宿主 intermediate host 野味 bushmeat; game 菊頭蝠 rufous horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus spp. ) 穿山甲 pangolin P4 實驗室 Biosafety Level 4 lab
RSS