Social Education

As introduced by the Taiwan Yearbook 2006:

The Ministry of Education supports a number of social education programs, among which are those to support supplementary education and continuing education. The ministry also supports exhibition, social education, and cultural centers, as well as museums, libraries, parks, zoos, orchestras, memorial halls, observatories, and institutes.

Supplementary and Continuing Education

Supplementary schools may be private or public. Most students receive certificates upon completion, and some may receive diplomas equivalent to those earned in the mainstream system by passing examinations. Supplementary education can be divided into three types: compulsory, advanced, and short-term. Supplementary schools are attached to regular schools at their corresponding levels in the mainstream either as correspondence or night schools, with weekend classes also being offered.

Supplementary compulsory education, also known as supplementary fundamental education, is a formal educational activity for adults and includes elementary through junior high school level courses. Supplementary advanced education, or continuing education, enrolls students from four different areas: senior high school, senior vocational school, junior college, and college. After completing the prescribed courses of study and passing their respective qualification exams, graduates earn mainstream-equivalent diplomas. Those enrolled in short-term supplementary education usually do so in either general or technical educational courses. In SY2005, a total of 210,701 students attended 905 supplementary and continuing education schools.

The top schools in the supplementary system are open universities. National Open University has been in operation since 1987, while the newer Open University of Kaohsiung began enrolling undergraduates in 1997.

There are two kinds of undergraduates in open universities: regular students and elective students. To be admitted, regular students must be at least 20 years old and have senior high school, senior vocational school, or equivalent qualifications. To graduate, regular students must acquire 128 credits. Elective students must be at least 18 years of age, are not required to have senior high or vocational school diplomas or equivalent qualifications, and need to earn 40 credits before becoming regular students. If they choose to continue, they can get their bachelor's degree after earning a further 88 credits. In SY2005, the two open universities were attended by 20,782 students, 3,395 of whom graduated that year.

Short-term Supplementary Classes

A large number of private supplementary schools, or "cram schools", prepare students for the senior high school and university entrance examinations. Other cram schools specialize in such subjects as foreign languages, children's classes, civil service exams, TOEFL, and other exams required for studying abroad. A large number of students also attend review classes for assistance in general subjects, such as the arts and sciences. As of December 2005, there were 14,411 such schools registered with the MOE. Nearly half of them were established in Taipei, Kaohsiung, and Taichung.

Since the government began to encourage the people to learn English, the number of English language schools has grown rapidly. Furthermore, more people have been attending supplementary computer classes to gain an edge in the competitive job market.

Besides seeking a scholastic edge, students also attend extracurricular private supplementary institutions or classes to foster additional skills and talents, such as playing musical instruments or chess, painting, and dancing; others try to enter different kinds of competitions which might gain them extra marks in the recommendation or selection forms for admission to higher education.

Because cram schools play an important role in Taiwan's educational system, the government is exercising closer supervision in terms of facility safety and educational standards. It is also planning to regulate the attendance of children under six years old at such institutions.

Other Educational Options

Adult education classes are offered in such areas as writing skills, practical mathematics, and civics. Technical classes in basic job skills are also available at training centers. Some television and radio stations, including the National Education Radio, Chinese Television System, and school-on-the-air, also offer classes.

To promote lifelong learning, many county and city governments now run non-degree-granting "community colleges" that offer diverse educational programs for adults.