After the 921 earthquake, he served as the chief executive of the Civic Consultation Team for Post-quake Reconstruction to help with disaster-relief projects in central Taiwan.
"In comparison with ministers directly invited from the academia, Huang should be more suited to the post in light of his experience in having worked in the local regions because, after all, being a minister and being a scholar require different criteria," the official said.
"It is equally important for ministers to be equipped with professional knowledge and managerial skills in order to deal with administrative affairs."
While many of Huang's friends sent him their best regards on his latest appointment, some warned that it would be a bumpy path ahead for him, given his liberal way of thinking.
"The difficulties will arise from possible friction inside the ministry, where most staffers are more conservative," said Chiu Hei-yuan (
"Usually, resistance to education reform lies inside, rather than outside, the ministry. It will not be easy to lead the organization where employees were trained by conservative teachers' colleges. It will require a lot of tact and wisdom," Chiu said.
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