Ministry of Education, Republic of China (Taiwan)
2009/04/21
With the appointment of the "Si Tu", some 2,500 years ago, China is the first country in the world to have a government office in charge of education. Since then, developing culture and maintaining social order has been our ultimate goal in education. Bearing this goal in mind, the Ministry of Education of the R.O.C. has constantly made effort to provide sound education for all the citizens.
Organization Overview and Current Situations
The Ministry of Education of the R.O.C was established upon the founding of the Republic in 1912. It is in charge of making and implementing educational policies. In the past five decades, the MOE has successfully enhanced the quality of people in Taiwan, laying the solid cornerstone for societal transition, democratic development, cultural attainment, and economic achievements. The MOE is headed by the Minister. There are also one Political Vice Minister and two Administrative Vice Ministers. The organization includes the Departments of Higher Education, Technological and Vocational Education, Secondary Education, Elementary and Junior High School Education, Social Education, Physical Education and several other agencies. They are in charge of the promotion and implementation of school education at all levels, adult education, physical education and other educational affairs.
At present, we have more than 5 million students studying in over 8,000 schools of all levels, including 1.2 million students in more than 100 institutions in the higher education system. Currently, our fundamental compulsory education consists of 6 years of elementary education and three years of junior high education, but the curricula of the two educational levels have been connected and integrated into a New 1-9 Curriculum. Upon completion of compulsory education, students may choose an academic track or a vocational track.
The academic track includes three years of senior high education, college/university education and post-graduate programs. The educational goal at these levels is to nurture high-quality specialists with expertise and international visions.
Vocational Education includes professional high schools, junior colleges, institutes of technology and universities of technology. Its purpose is to develop.
technical manpower for economic development. In addition, we actively promote supplementary education and community education, providing the general public abundant opportunities for pursuing life-long learning. We also offer special education for gifted students and physical or mentally handicapped students to help them make the best of their aptitude.
With years of efforts, the illiteracy rate among our people over 15 years old has dropped from 7% in 1991 to less than 4% at present. Since 1976, the enrollment rates in elementary schools and junior high schools have maintained at a level of more than 99%.
Moreover, among people over 15 years of age, the percentage of people with at least a bachelor's degree increased from 6% in 1991 to 13% in 2001, and the number is still going up rapidly every year. We are now actively making plans to extend the compulsory education to cover both the senior high education and early childhood education in hope of creating a more complete educational structure. Along with knowledge development in the new century, our lifestyles and societal structures are undergoing great changes. It is inevitable that education will undergo great changes as well. In response, we will take on the challenges of leadership, promoting education and preparing our people to face the challenges in the new era.
Internal Units
Secretariat
Counselors Office
Inspectors Office
Dept. of Higher Education
Dept. of Technological & Vocational Education
Dept. of Secondary Education
Dept. of Elementary Education
Dept. of Social Education
Dept. of Physical Education
Central Region Office
Dept. of General Affairs
Bureau of International Cultural & Educational Relations
Dept. of Military Training Education
Dept. of Accounting
Dept. of Statistics
Dept. of Personnel
Dept. of Civil Service Ethics
Advisory Office
Computer Center
Division of Environmental Protection Education
Mainland Affairs Task Force
Division of Special Education
25 Overseas Cultural Divisions
Committees
Council of Academic Reviewal & Evaluation
Committee for Educational Research
Student Affairs Committee
Committee on Medical Science Education
Overseas Compatriot Educational Committee
Petitions & Appeals Committee
Committee of Laws and Regulations
For more detail please see http://www.edu.tw