In his second weekly televised broadcast to the nation yesterday, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) said that, like all parents and teachers, he wants educational reformers to put themselves in the shoes of students and strive to establish a concrete, feasible and complete structure for schools.
"My sister and sister-in-law are both personally engaged in the education reforms, but even they do not know what will happen next," Chen said. "Parents, children and teachers are all at a loss."
Chen stressed that while Taiwan should not return to the old ways of constant examinations, the reforms have so far failed to relieve the burden on pupils and parents. It's time, he said, for reformers to listen to what the public is telling them from the heart.
"It is my wish that the educational reforms see fewer exams, lighter school bags, more sleep and more options for schoolchildren so that future generations will not be bedeviled by exams," Chen said.
The televised chat was the second recording of A-bian Portrait," which was inspired by former US president Franklin D. Roosevelt's acclaimed fireside chats and launched by the president as a new way to share his views with the public.
Chen also talked about the public's perception of the new reforms, which many people believe have done little to plug inefficiencies in the education system.
"Do our children really feel better off than eight years ago? I think not," Chen said.
"The educational system underwent a big overhaul in terms of entrance methods and the content of all textbooks. But the result has left everybody deeply dissatisfied and at a loss," Chen said.
Chen added that if even the experts have no idea where the reforms will lead, then it is difficult to ask parents and children to keep faith in the process.
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