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Education boss to consult on memorial

The controversies over the National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall and school textbooks will be priorities for the new administration, but the public should not expect quick fix solutions, the education minister-designate said yesterday.

Former National Chengchi University president Cheng Jei-cheng (鄭瑞城) told reporters that he would deal with the memorial hall controversy after there was enough public debate on the issue.

The hall, formerly known as Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, was a major cause for dispute last year when the President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) administration changed its name and replaced an inscription and plaque on the main gate that lauded Chiang.

The pan-green camp touted the move as a significant step in Taiwan’s democratization, but the pan-blue camp claimed the move had defaced a historical site and robbed the public of its right to decide the fate of the memorial.

“I will deal with the issue as soon I enter office, but the public should not expect an immediate solution. We will strive to establish a platform in order to have a dialogue with the public. A decision will be made after the public has its say,” he said.

Cheng, who supports the Chen administration’s policy of having multiple textbooks for subjects, also said he was open to new ideas.
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