MOE addresses legal status of private schools

Responding to recent cases of financial difficulties and corruption within many of Taiwan's private schools, the Ministry of Education announced yesterday that laws would be amended in order to change private schools' incorporated status (財團法人) to that of school corporations (學校法人).

According to the ministry, amendments are necessary before private school boards can be allowed greater operational autonomy -- in keeping with the trend toward liberalizing education.

According to a special committee within the ministry, over the past six years, a total of 19 private schools have faced financial difficulties, including 16 junior colleges and three high schools or vocational schools.

Property from many schools has been sold or stolen and the government has had to cover the schools' losses. The proposed amendments would include making the schools themselves responsible for future losses.

Meanwhile, teachers and students from private schools are planning to protest the ministry's decision tomorrow.

According to Chen Hsi-an (陳璽安), director of Taiwan's Private Education Association (中華民國私校協會), the 720,000 students who attend private colleges or universities in Taiwan are allotted about 20 percent of the government's educational resources while 270,000 public school students enjoy some 80 percent of the resources.

"We are only asking for a fair distribution of Taiwan's educational resources," Chen said.