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Education minister disciplines official for allocation fiasco

Minister of Education Huang Jong-tsun (黃榮村) last night announced that Chen Te-hua (陳德華), director of the ministry's Technological and Vocational Education Department, would become the first ministry official to be punished for mistakes made in the allocation of freshman students to the nation's high schools, vocational schools and junior colleges.

Errors were found on the lists allocating students, which were made public on Wednesday. Several high schools in Taipei and Kaohsiung districts found that the number of students allocated to them was less than the number of vacancies.

Taichung Polytechnic College, which organized the allocations on behalf of the ministry, discovered later that the quota for Aboriginal and handicapped students -- which was supposed to be a supplementary quota -- had been unknowingly calculated into the quota for ordinary students.

The mistake resulted in fewer ordinary students being allocated to these schools.

"It is regrettable that this mistake happened," said Huang at a press conference held by the ministry.

"The ministry bears responsibility for the fiasco," he added.

While more officials are expected to receive disciplinary action, Chen was singled out yesterday and will be demoted.

On Friday, Chen, who was in charge of the placement process, publicly said that he was willing to take responsibility for any negligence regarding supervision of the student-placement scheme.

Huang said that whether to punish Lu Mu-lin (呂木琳), administrative vice minister, would be determined in the near future as the ministry continued its review of the blunder.

"I myself will explain the whole issue to the premier [Yu Shyi-kun], who will then pass judgment [on me]," Huang said.

"I will not shirk any responsibility", he said.

Meanwhile, several high school principals yesterday stated that the Taichung Polytechnic College wasn't to blame for the blunder, instead pointing the finger at the ministry.

The principals said the ministry made mistakes in its paperwork on the placements, leading to the fiasco.
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