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Students say they don't like contests

Although Taiwan students excel in international science Olymp-iads and contests, more than 70 percent of the participants believe that the competitions have had negative effects on them, according to the results of a survey conducted by the Ministry of Education.

The survey elicited responses from 197 students out of the 175 high school students who took part in international science Olympiads and the 91 high school students who competed in international science contests between 1992 and 2001.

A total of 215 students won awards at these competitions.

Of the Olympiad participants, 72.66 percent said the competition made them fall behind in their schoolwork, gave them too much pressure, left them exhausted and caused them to lose friends and become loners.

Among students who participated in international science exhibitions, the figure was 77.55 percent.

Although they said the competitions broadened their horizons and boosted their confidence, the students also complained that the competitions took too much of their time.

A few students also said that the contests gave them too much pressure, made them irritable and lonely, destroyed their trust in others, left them with poor social skills and sometimes even caused them to lose all interest in mathematics and science.

Asked whether they would like to compete again, however, 85 percent said that they would, according to the survey results.

To encourage students to take part in international science competitions, students who win awards at the competitions are granted university entrance without having to take exams, while those who compete but fail to win are also eligible for recommendation to their preferred school departments.
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