A Study of the Educational Reform oA Study of the Educational Reform of ‘National Basic Education’ Policy if ‘National Basic Education’ Policy i

n Taiwann Taiwan

Feng-Jihu LeeFeng-Jihu LeeProfessor and Director, Professor and Director,

Graduate Institute of Education, Graduate Institute of Education, National Chung Cheng University National Chung Cheng University

IntroductionNational education has always been one oNational education has always been one of the most important aspects of education f the most important aspects of education in Taiwan, as it is a part of the process of in Taiwan, as it is a part of the process of building a genuine foundation for the futubuilding a genuine foundation for the future hopes of the nation. re hopes of the nation. Public education has been compulsory froPublic education has been compulsory from primary school to junior high school sim primary school to junior high school since 1968. nce 1968.

Introduction

In 1982, the government further announced the Compulsory Education Regulations, which stipulate that children of at least 6 years of age are required to begin primary schooling without taking entrance tests.

Introduction

At the New Year of 2011, the president Dr. Ma Yingjeou officially announced the inauguration of the so-called ‘promotion of 12-year national basic education’, which policy had been controversially argued for and against since 1983.

IntroductionThis educational reform aims to extend compulsory education to cover senior secondary education and is rather complicated and takes nearly 30 years to be completed. However, this policy must seriously take into accounts the more complex problems such as

Introductionrectification of educational acts, adaption of school district layouts, redesign of curriculum, quality promotion of senior high schools and vocational senior high schools, bridging the learning gap between rural and urban high schools, structural adjustment of initial teacher education, financial support for underprivileged students,priorities setting of education budgets, et al.

Introduction

‘If the name is not right then speech will not be in order, and if speech is not in order then nothing will be accomplished.’ said Confucius 2500 years ago.

IntroductionThis paper shall do some conceptual analysis to the concepts of ‘national education’ and its related conceptions such as compulsory education, free education, basic education.

Secondly, from Secondly, from a historical a historical approach, this paper traces the backgrounds of the policy of ‘ traces the backgrounds of the policy of ‘promotion of 12-year national basic educatiopromotion of 12-year national basic educationn’.’.

Introduction

Thirdly, the presenter will present the Thirdly, the presenter will present the histhistorical developmentorical development of this policy itself. of this policy itself.

Finally, the presenter attempts to Finally, the presenter attempts to re-fix thre-fix this policy’s position and ascertain its falseis policy’s position and ascertain its falseness and truthfulnessness and truthfulness..

Genesis of National EducationMartin Luther Martin Luther 1517 The 95 Theses on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences : everyone should be able to read the Bible, and therefore be educated in schools.1524 "To the Councilmen of All Cities in Germany that They Establish and Maintain Christian Schools“ argued for building free and no entrance-constraint school systems1530 "A Sermon on Keeping Children in School“ argued for compulsorily parent’s obligation to send children to schools

Genesis of National Education

King of Prussia Frederick William Iin 1717 instituted compulsory primary education

1735 and 1736 set up teacher training institute respectively

1736 issued the Principia Regulativa, a general plan for parents to send children from 6 to 12 to attend schools compulsorily

Genesis of National Education

King of Prussia Frederick William II1763 education as a National business, childre1763 education as a National business, children from 5 to 13 or 14 must attend schoolsn from 5 to 13 or 14 must attend schools ；；1794 enacted education act, school education s1794 enacted education act, school education shall be charged by the Nation, not the churchhall be charged by the Nation, not the church

Genesis of National Education in China

Chin Dynasty China1902 education systems include primary education, not in practice1903 education systems include primary education: Junior primary school, from 7 to 12; Senior primary school, from 13 to 17.Both primary schools are Not compulsory.

Genesis of National Education in China

Republic of China1912 New School System, the stage of 1912 New School System, the stage of primary education includes primary education includes Junior primary school for 4 years, and Senior primary school for 3 years. The . The Junior primary school belongs to compulsory education.Not in practice, though.

Genesis of National Education in China

1929 the Mission of Education emphasized equal opportunities of education for both male and female children.1932 Ministry of Education enacted the Guideline for Implementing Compulsory Education, from 1932 to 1935.December 1932 enacted Primary School Act.May 1935 enacted the Temporary Guideline for Implementing Compulsory Education.

Genesis of National Education in China

March March 19401940, Ministry of Education enacted ‘I, Ministry of Education enacted ‘Implementing Guideline for mplementing Guideline for National EducationNational Education’. The first time to use National Education in C’. The first time to use National Education in Chinese History of education, ranged from 6 to hinese History of education, ranged from 6 to 12 years old children and 12 years old children and supplementary educasupplementary educationtion for illiteracy adults. for illiteracy adults.Not tuition-free education but compulsory.Not tuition-free education but compulsory.1947 the Constitution enacted, its 21 regulation adopts the term as ‘National Education’.

Genesis of National Education in Taiwan

Taiwan during Japanese colonization Taiwan during Japanese colonization (1895-1945)(1895-1945)

1941, the Japanese colony government, according to ‘the National School Charter’, integrated the Japanese children’ primary school and Taiwanese children’ public school as the new ‘National School’.

Genesis of National Education in Taiwan

Taiwan back to China (1945-)1947, Taiwan’s Administrative Office enacted ‘Scheme of compulsory schooling for school-aged children’ , which was both compulsory and textbook-free.1956, the Scheme was revised to regulate each County Borough to organize ‘committee for implementing compulsory education’. Those who disobey this regulation will be advised, warned and fined.

Genesis of National Education in TaiwanAugust 1967, Executive Yuan past the ‘ImplementinAugust 1967, Executive Yuan past the ‘Implementing Guideline for g Guideline for 9-year National Education’ National Education’January 1968, the ‘Implementing Regulation for January 1968, the ‘Implementing Regulation for 9-year National Education’ announced. National Education’ announced.The main themesThe main themes1.Tuition fee-free1.Tuition fee-free2.District layout for Junior High School students2.District layout for Junior High School students3.Junior High School entrance without testing3.Junior High School entrance without testing4.Allowance for setting private Junior High School 4.Allowance for setting private Junior High School

Conceptual Analysis of National Education

connotation and denotation of connotation and denotation of National Education

Aims: general vs. vocationalAims: general vs. vocational

Characters: compulsory/ obligatory/universalCharacters: compulsory/ obligatory/universal

Stages of education: primary + junior high +?Stages of education: primary + junior high +?

Sovereign: National vs. religious or privateSovereign: National vs. religious or private

Implementation: tuition fee and/or textbook Implementation: tuition fee and/or textbook free free

Entrance: specific school districtEntrance: specific school district

National vs. basic educationNational vs. basic education

Before 2005, all the official documents refer to this policy as ‘Extension of 12-year National Education’, not as ‘National Basic Education’.

What the conceptual differences are between these two terms?

National vs. basic educationNational vs. basic education

Legal acts: refer to Basic Education in 1936, Legal acts: refer to Basic Education in 1936, draft Constitution; 1947 the Constitution; and draft Constitution; 1947 the Constitution; and 1944, National School Act regulated that 1944, National School Act regulated that ‘National education is the basic education for ‘National education is the basic education for those who are 6 to 12 school-years children’.those who are 6 to 12 school-years children’.

So, NE & BE correspond to each other So, NE & BE correspond to each other whether Conceptually or practically.whether Conceptually or practically.

National vs. basic educationNational vs. basic education

Stages of education: universal primary/ Stages of education: universal primary/ junior secondary educationjunior secondary education

Contents of learning: 3 R + basic skills Contents of learning: 3 R + basic skills vs. specialist skillsvs. specialist skills

Basic education as a foundation for a Basic education as a foundation for a person’s whole educationperson’s whole education

The development of extending schools’ years of national education in Taiwan

1968: implementing 9-year NE1968: implementing 9-year NE

1982: compulsory education 1982: compulsory education regulationsregulations

1st stage: 1983-19981st stage: 1983-1998

2nd stage: 1999-20052nd stage: 1999-2005

3rd stage: 2005-20113rd stage: 2005-2011

1st stage: 1983-19981st stage: 1983-1998

1983: 10-year vocational education-based NE

1989: MOE announced the plan for promotion of 12-year NE

1990: No-Exam Volunteering High School Trial Program

1993:Technical-craft Education for the 10th NE

2nd stage: 1999-20052nd stage: 1999-2005

1998: Multi-channel admission programs for s1998: Multi-channel admission programs for senior high schools and vocational high schools enior high schools and vocational high schools

2001:The Basic Academic Competence Test re2001:The Basic Academic Competence Test replaced united entrance exam, 1. admission by rplaced united entrance exam, 1. admission by registration and placement, 2. admission by recegistration and placement, 2. admission by recommendation and selection, and 3. admission ommendation and selection, and 3. admission by application; at the same time, planning high by application; at the same time, planning high school integrating with local communityschool integrating with local community

2nd stage: 1999-20052nd stage: 1999-2005

2001: Minister Tseng Chih-Lang plannin2001: Minister Tseng Chih-Lang planning the educated school yearsg the educated school years 。。2003: Minister Huang Jung-Tsun initiated 2003: Minister Huang Jung-Tsun initiated 4 research programs 4 research programs

2004: MOE organized ‘Working circle fo2004: MOE organized ‘Working circle for r promotion of 12-year National Education’ ..

3rd stage: 2005-2011

2004: set up task force team and office2004: set up task force team and office

2007: Executive Yuan announced to put the po2007: Executive Yuan announced to put the policy in practice in 2009.licy in practice in 2009.

2010: the 8th National Assembly of Education 2010: the 8th National Assembly of Education agrees to push the promotion policy.agrees to push the promotion policy.

2011: Mr. president announced to starting the 2011: Mr. president announced to starting the 12-year NE and will be fully achieved in 2014.12-year NE and will be fully achieved in 2014.

3rd stage: 2005-2011

Main contents/characteristics of 12-year Main contents/characteristics of 12-year NENE

1.universal: from 15+ to 18+1.universal: from 15+ to 18+

2.volunteer/non-obligatory: this education 2.volunteer/non-obligatory: this education stage belongs to students’ rights, not comstage belongs to students’ rights, not compulsorypulsory

3.non tuition fee-free3.non tuition fee-free

3rd stage: 2005-20114.senior high school entrance without unit4.senior high school entrance without united exam’s scoresed exam’s scores5.both public and private5.both public and private 。。6.multiple-types senior high school6.multiple-types senior high school5.both general and technical education5.both general and technical education

Re-fixing 12-year NBE’s position

Making clear NBE’s falseness and truthfulness

Many Thanks for Your Attention!Many Thanks for Your Attention!