Fundamental Education

As introduced by the Taiwan Yearbook 2006:

The Constitution entitles all children to at least six years of basic education. The National Education Act, promulgated in 1979, stipulates that all school-age children (between 6 and 15) must attend six years of elementary school and three years of junior high school. Exceptions to this rule are children with special educational needs, students who spend time in supplementary education, and a small number of students in experimental schools.

In 1982, the Compulsory School Attendance Act was revised, stating that parents or guardians of school-age children are obliged to send them to school and face fines or other penalties if they fail to do so. To enforce this statute, Compulsory Attendance Committees were set up at different levels of local government.

The compulsory education system has continuously evolved for the better, both in terms of quality and size. In SY2005, the net enrollment rate of elementary students eligible for universal public education was 99.40 percent. Almost all children eligible to begin the first year of elementary school were enrolled that year, as required by law.

Elementary School

Elementary schooling is the first formal education children receive, and the paramount aim is literacy. Since the mid-1990s, class sizes have been continuously reduced to improve the quality of education. By SY2005, there were an average of 29.26 students in a class.

Junior High School

According to the National Education Act, every citizen between 12 and 15 years of age is eligible for public junior high school education and has the option of attending a private school. The three-year junior high school program in Taiwan's educational system is comparable to grades seven through nine in the United States. Junior high school is often referred to as "intermediate education" in Taiwan. After completing three years of junior high school courses, graduates must take basic competence tests in order to enter senior high school or senior vocational school, both of which are three-year programs, or a five-year junior college, which also covers their high-school years.

Curricula for Grades 1-9

Before educational reforms started in the mid-1990s, considerable discrepancies existed between elementary and junior high school curricula. To fill the gap, in 2001 education authorities implemented a more comprehensive and thorough curriculum, the General Guidelines of Elementary and Junior High School Curriculum for Grades 1-9. Five core character-building components are emphasized in the nine-year compulsory education system. It is hoped that students will learn, among other things, how to lead a balanced life, respect the law and democracy, develop a sense of patriotism and a global perspective, and embrace lifelong learning.

The curricula also designate seven major learning areas: languages, health and physical education, social studies, arts and humanities, mathematics, science and technology, and interdisciplinary activities. Language constitutes 20 to 30 percent of the total curricula, with the other six areas each taking an equal share of the remainder. In order to better prepare students to enter an increasingly globalized world, English has become compulsory from the third grade on, two years earlier than previously had been required. One of Taiwan's local dialects (Holo Taiwanese, Hakka, or an aboriginal dialect) is required from first through sixth grade, but is optional in junior high school.

In addition to these guidelines, new teaching methods and textbooks are also being introduced. Each school now has a curriculum development committee to review teaching materials in accordance with these guidelines so as to best accommodate the needs of students.

To improve the quality of English teaching at the fundamental education level, the MOE in recent years has assisted local governments to recruit native English speakers from countries like Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States to teach English at elementary and junior high schools. It is expected that the project will enhance the competitiveness of public elementary and junior high schools and help increase the number of English-teaching staff in remote areas so as to bridge Taiwan's rural-urban gap.

Multi-route Promotion Programs

Junior high graduates may enter secondary education through admission by registration and placement, admission by recommendation and screening, and admission by application. The primary index for admission into secondary learning institutions is the Basic Competence Test (BCT) for Junior High School Students, which is held twice every year and covers five subjects: Chinese, English, mathematics, natural science, and social science. Students may choose to take either or both of the BCTs. The score of the first BCT is required for admission by application as well as admission by recommendation and screening, while the higher score of the two BCTs serves as the basis for admission by registration and placement.

Additional options are available for students, as they can also join the Practical Technical Program, which offers technical training courses beginning in the third year of junior high school. Upon graduation, they may enroll in vocational schools that provide a minimum of one additional year of training.