LETTER: The enviable shape of children's education in Taiwan
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The enviable shape of children's education in Taiwan
From Mr Wun-Shaing Wayne Chang
Sir: Indeed, culture is the major reason why Taiwanese children do so well scholastically. However, one should notice that the qualifications of a Taiwanese teacher are also expected to be of a higher standard than the rest of the world.
To qualify as teacher in maths, for example, aspirants need first to pass the entrance examination to a teacher's academy, which nowadays is recognised as being comparable to the top universities in Taiwan. Afterwards, they are obliged to learn pedagogic and math subjects to the standard required for math major students at general universities, and finally they spend one or two years of on-site training before they can be a formal teacher. It is, therefore, not surprising to see that teachers in Taiwan have a high social reputation and a knowledge of proper teaching methods with which to enlighten low-ability children.
There is no one education system suitable for the entire world. Taiwanese students, however, lack some expression and creativity when compared to Western children, and the teachers in Taiwan are now trying to improve that.
Yours faithfully,
WUN-SHAING WAYNE CHANG
Cambridge
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments