Copyright © 2003 Taipei City Government

Education&Culture

As we enter the 21st century, the politics, economy, and culture of the world are undergoing rapid transformation. The future society will be one that is fast-paced, full of chal­lenge and competition; however, a place filled with opportunities and hope, too. Technological develop­ment grows by leaps and bounds, international relations become stronger, and an individuals' ability to control their own destination and be­come self-reliant continues to increase. Democracy and diversity have become an unstoppable trend. In the new centurv, the heightened level of competition, increased har­mony within the society, the con­tinued protection of our natural resources, the boost of manpower quality, and the improvement of quality of life; the keys to success all depend on education. The promotion of personal development and the or­derly advancement of society also depend on education. Investing in education is investing in the future. In the 21st century the reform of edu­cation needs to head in the right direction, enabling the education of diverse, tolerant, sensible, respectable, healthy, happy, fortunate, and pro­ductive persons. Not only can we continue Taiwan's success, but stay a step ahead of the competition in the new century.

An important goal in our system is to "strengthen campus safety, leam­mg through daily life events, through multi 4aceted teaching, making our campus more like a community, edu­cating more democratically". Leam­mg is not limited to the classroom, it is all round us and we are leaming constantly. Of course, teachers plays a key role, educators should have instinct, inborn ability, love, and be professional to promote educational activities to educate our children.

Parents and those who are con­corned about education should attend professional discussions and meebngs, enable to form a mutual understand­ing so that education in Taipei can improve. The following are our goals for the future:

I. To concentrate on building a mutual understanding of educa­tion

reform. To construct firm education structure.

The reform of education has to be guided into the right direction of development. Therefore, a solid edu­cational foundation is needed to en­sure success. For the past few years, the Bureau of Education has already completed the white paper for pre­school education, handicapped education, information education, and water safety and swimming instmction. Though there is still a con­stant need for review and research to integrate education resource, a mutual understanding of education reform is necessary to gain support from citizens. Another step in the progress is to form ground rules, create plans, pno~ize goals, and implement plans to achieve educational development and reform process.

II. To deregulate education

To promote standard admin­istration of teaching.

Due to our multi4aceted society, we need to deregulate current edu­cational practices and promote school-based autonomy regarding the standards of administration and teaching. Establishing educational and teaching goals, selecting teach­ing material, formulating teaching methods and strategies will al­low schools to propose their own academic developmental plan. Therefore, enabling schools to oper­ate autonomously, to provide appro­

priate classes based on each stu­dents' individual strengths. Review and avoid unnecessary re tape, and to empower schools with the ability to determine their best interest and course of action. Encourage educa­tors to advance their abilities and skills, to increase autonomy within staff, to create and review their teach­ing methods, to reduce internal and external supervision, and to better utilize personnel resources. Also, to emphasize the research and devel­opmentto improve teachers autonomy. Continue to recognize outstanding education personnel. To establish professional peer groups to improve ethics, to promote and create a stan­dard of professionalism.

Ill. To expand the involvement level, enable everyone to

become the dynamic of education.

Under the firm structure to pro­duce the "essence" of education, the progressof education reform needs the attention and participation of educators, parents, and those who are concerned about education. In the future through various educa­tion discussion, establish constant communication, recommendation, and channels of participation to have teachers, parents, principals, administrators, students and others who are concerned about education to give their opinion. Through the bot­tom-up discussion accumulate and exchange experience enable every­on~ to nourish and share ideas. As­sist and promote the development of education in Taipei.

IV. Take good care of every

student. Construct variety of social value.

In the past everyone believed the concept "nothing is more worthy except studying". Under the system of entrance examination, it allowed the general public and parents to de­fine students with high score. This has lead students to be unsure of themselves, and lack self-confidence. At the same time, society became different, we ought to put more effort into structunng the concept value of di­versity society, and promote the con­cept of intelligence and ability. Define different students' performance in dif­ferent area and profession. Regardless of academic, athletic, singing, painting, or care and service to the society. Any fine performance should be assured and encouraged. In the future, I wish to guide all educators and parents to construct the value of diversity. Take good care of every stu­dent enable him or her to find their own direction of life.

V. Care for underprivileged groups. To practicable the

spirit of equality of education opportunity.

Correspond the tendency of non­rejection to students who are handi­capped and to standardize special education. To make facilities and sur­roundings of campus and education personnel's mental environment cone­spond with the spirit of no-barrier. Through special education consultant committee and evaluate settle assis­tance committee construct the flawless system of special education in Taipei. Have handicapped children grow in a non-barher environment. Continuously promote gender equality education, and pay special attention to abongines and underprivileged students' education and guidance. Provide scholarships for depnved students. Practicable equal education opportunity for underprivi­leged groups.

VI. Enhance research and

development. Promote vari­ous education innovation.

Continue to execute diversify en­trance school project, open education, reduce the load of teachers, and pro­mote the level of education. Also to research and develop on life, foreign language and diversify education. As to the different school levels empha­sis on the phase of research and development. Including kindergarten's phase on life education, the combina­Uon of kindergarten and preschcol, and the compulsory of early childhood

education. The value, information, for­eign language education in elementary school; sentimental and physical education in junior high school; life education, and the project of diversity entrance in senior high school.

VII. Promote citizen leisure

culture education and physi­cal education forthe public.

To have citizens feel the impor­tance of leisure activities by coordinat­ing with leisure activities, a place to go for leisure and learning, and enable citizens a place to go dunng holiday or time off, we will continue to provide art festival, drama festival, musical festival and other culture project. We are also actively planing to build the "giant egg" (the Dome) and tien-mu sports park, continue to arrange open campus for the public and expand leisure arenas. In the field of physical education, through enhance physical education and sports group, elevate students' physical ability, actively arrange and plan different kinds of sports com­petition and activities, carry out physi­cal education interviews, to make exercise a habit. In the field of social physical education, through the help of associaton, encourage citizens to have leisure exercises. To promote physical education for the public in making ex­ercise a habit.

VIII. Total education resource, creating a long life learning

society.

Due to the social culture that we are in, coordinate the need of Taiwan's construct and the citizens' life long education. Encourage the search for new knowledge, increase make­over for schools, encourage publics' participation, unite schools education systems inside and out, cultivate in­ternational vision and the sense of global village, arouse potential learn­ing groups, ensure citizens rights of learning, and sanction with citizens learning accomplishment.

To think back one hundred years, the development of technology has change the dpeople the most. The ad­vance of technology not only influence people deeply, but also can predict the continuance of this influence will continue. The blooming of informa­tion technology and transportation's advance have made the world even

smaller. The intimate relations and dependency between people and so­ciety has gotten even closer There is a lot of policy in the society, from the de­velopment of energy, the prevention of pollution, to the control of population. All are related to the development of technology.

While society elevate because of the produce of technology, the process of production has become automatic, manpower is not the main effect of economy development. The produc­tion of different products has to depend on detailed technology and attentive design, knowledge and technique needs to be faster and newer, thus can capture the need of the generation. Absorb knowledge in large amount and quickly is a qualification that is necessary. Living in the current society, if unable to initiate in learning new knowledge, and only depend on the teaching of teachers will definitely fall behind.

From the developing world, we are not hard to figure out. A modern society that is faced with change and challenges, citizens not only has to absorb information quick and in large amount, but at the same time, has to become world citizens, enable to examine and execute the new de­veloping world. The need of the new century is to have enough knowledge and technique. Thus, in the next cen­tury to solve problems that the new developing society has created, a per­son who will not quit until the matter is solved is needed.

Facing the new century, a diverse culture world, we need a group with team sp~, willing to work together, and citizens who are willing to learn new knowledge and continuously enrich them selves. This is not just a citizen of one country, it is the citizen of the glo­bal village.

Education work is a long term enterprise, it needs to be hand down one after another, thus we can see it's results. As the reformation of edu­cation comes to a new century, we will see an individuals daily ability, competition between countries, and the structuring of a new culture. Thus, at the Bureau of Education we will try our best to reach our goals.  

David S. J. Lee

Director Bureau of Education Taipei City Government  

Copyright © 2003 Taipei City Government

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