Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers yesterday accused the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) government of backtracking on promises not to retroactively recognize Chinese educational credentials from 41 selected Chinese universities.
Under amendments to the University Act (大學法), the Vocational School Act (專科學校法) and the Act Governing the Relations between the Peoples of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (臺灣地區與大陸地區人民關係條例) passed on Aug. 19, Taiwanese colleges and -graduate schools will begin accepting Chinese students next spring. The number of Chinese students admitted to local universities in the initial stage of the program cannot exceed 1 percent of total -enrollment. That equals about 2,000 students nationwide.
The amendments included articles stipulating that Taiwan would recognize educational credentials from 41 selected Chinese universities, with the exception of -medicine-related certificates, adding that the regulations could not be applied retroactively. Not written into law, but attached as a resolution, was a ban on Chinese students working part-time during their studies.
The amendments were promulgated and put into effect on Sept. 3.
However, yesterday Minister of Education Wu Ching-ji (吳清基) said the ministry was considering recognizing Chinese educational certificates received after 1992 if those holding the certificates file a request with the ministry and the certificates are deemed valid after verification.
Although the three amended pieces of legislation are not retroactive, the Act Governing Relations Between the Peoples of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area stipulates that rules -governing the review and recognition of Chinese education credentials shall be drafted by the ministry, Wu said.
Wu said the ministry would not take the initiative to verify Chinese educational certificates issued before the three laws took effect and would only verify the documents when it receives requests from diploma holders and the certificates would “go through a very strict verification process.”
During yesterday’s question-and-answer session at the legislature, DPP Legislator Wong Chin-chu (翁金珠) criticized the ministry for failing to keep its promise and asked Premier Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) to reject the policy should the ministry propose it to the Executive Yuan.
The premier did not declare his position on the issue, saying only that the ministry’s proposal has not yet been referred to the Executive Yuan for approval.
The government will not change its position and the government will not retroactively recognize Chinese diplomas that were obtained before Sept. 3, Wu Den-yih said.
As to whether the government would “passively” recognize Chinese educational certificates issued before promulgation of the amendments, the premier said the Executive Yuan would assess the issue thoroughly. He did not elaborate.
DPP Legislator Lin Shu-fen (林淑芬) blasted the government, saying: “The public will completely lose confidence in the government’s credibility if the measure to be adopted by the ministry is approved by the Executive Yuan.”
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