Minister of Education Huang Jung-tsun (
With the beginning of the school year in September, elementary schools in eight cities and counties are providing English instruction to all classes. In other words, children are learning English from the age of seven.
At an interpellation session of the Legislature's Education Committee, Huang told lawmakers that the ministry considers it "more proper" for elementary schools to start English instruction from the third grade, after the students have developed a good comprehension of Mandarin.
Huang said that the ministry will coordinate with the education departments of all local governments to make English a required course starting from the third grade either in 2004 or 2005.
English was made a required course for fifth graders nationwide in September last year, when the ministry put into force a reform program to streamline the curricula of elementary and junior high schools. Prior to that, students received their first English lessons in junior high.
In metropolitan areas, however, many parents are eager to have their youngsters learn English at an earlier age. In Taipei, for example, many small children begin learning English in kindergarten.
The minister said that the education authorities will not interfere with the policies of local governments that decide to allow English instruction at an earlier age. However, he claimed that English proficiency alone does not signify an elevation of competitiveness.
In order to offer schoolchildren a good English learning environment, the minister added, the education authorities need to prepare appropriate instruction materials as well as teaching staff.
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