President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday reaffirmed his determination to see through a program of educational reform, saying that the expansion of national compulsory education was a government priority.
"The government has done a lot of research and preliminary work on the issue of expanding compulsory education, no matter whether it is to be expanded one year up to the university level or down to the kindergarten level, or even the phasing in of the 12- year compulsory education program," Chen said yesterday.
Chen was addressing a national conference of senior high school principals in Hsinchu County.
He said the government would consider different opinions from all social sectors to devise the best measures to introduce into the reforms.
"Though the government needs more time to draw up the final program," Chen said, "the ultimate goal of the new education measures must pursue the ideals of being exam-free, fee-free and compulsion-free," Chen said.
The president also said that groups involved in the education reform debate should eschew political involvement in the runup to the presidential election.
"Using confrontational measures to demonstrate their stance or to politicize issues will not win support for their views but just plunge society into chaos," Chen said.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) has been harshly criticized by social groups over its reform policy, with many education experts vigorously opposing the 12-year compulsory education program by questioning the government's ability to carry it out.
The MOE therefore held a National Conference on Educational Development last weekend to create a wider consensus on the direction reform should take.
"However, the public's emphasis on the necessity of getting into the `best' schools remains the core problem for education in Taiwan, and it needs both more persuasion and more responsive programs to help the public adjust their attitude and thereby solve the issue.
"As a result, education reform still needs to be continuously pushed," Chen said.
Nevertheless, Chen said: "The government will not negate the results of reform or return to the old ways simply because of the present difficulties and controversies."
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