National Chengchi University president and Minister of Education appointee Wu Se-hwa (吳思華) yesterday said that while the government’s investment in and support of the business sector are essential to promoting higher education, students also need to “shoulder a basic burden.”
He made the remarks during a radio interview when asked to comment on the increase in college tuition.
Before raising tuition fees, universities must ensure that their spending is transparent and open to scrutiny, and obtain an internal consensus on the issue, he added.
Wu yesterday pledged to improve the new high-school admission system, which has caused widespread complaints among students and parents, as soon as he assumes office today.
The appointee is scheduled to be sworn into his new position today to replace former minister of education Chiang Wei-ling (蔣偉寧), who resigned on July 14 after being linked to a scandal over fake peer reviews of several research papers published by a Taiwanese academic.
Wu yesterday said that the responsibility of a new education minister is not creating a batch of new policies, but allowing the policies that already exist to “return to the basics” to let limited resources produce the most results.
He stressed that the government’s new 12-year education policy would not undergo any major changes in the near future.
Despite widespread criticism against the recently launched high-school admission system, a core feature of the 12-year education program, Wu called the system “passable.”
He said that more than 60 percent of high-school applicants were accepted by their first-choice schools in the first round of exam-free admissions, while most of the remaining students also found suitable schools through special entrance exams.
PROCEDURE: Although there is already a cross-strait agreement in place for the extradition of criminals, ample notice is meant to be given to the other side first Ten Taiwanese who were involved in fraud-related crimes in China were extradited back to Taiwan via Kinmen County on Wednesday, four of whom are convicted fraudsters in Taiwan. The 10 people arrived via a ferry operating between Xiamen and Kinmen, also known as the “small three links.” The Kinmen County Prosecutors’ Office yesterday said that four of the 10 extradited people were convicted in Taiwan for committing fraud and contravening the Money Laundering Control Act (洗錢防制法), and were on the wanted list. They were immediately arrested upon arrival and sent to Kinmen Prison to serve their sentences following brief questioning, the office said.
Taipei and Kaohsiung have extended an open invitation to Japanese pop star Ayumi Hamasaki after Chinese authorities abruptly canceled her scheduled concert in Shanghai. Hamasaki, 47, had been slated to perform on Saturday before organizers pulled the show at the last minute, citing “force majeure,” a move widely viewed as retaliation for Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent remark that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could draw a military response from Tokyo. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) yesterday said the city “very much welcomes” Hamasaki’s return and would continue to “surprise” her. Hamasaki, who has a large global fan base, including
‘REGRETTABLE’: Travelers reported that Seoul’s online arrival card system lists Taiwan as ‘China (Taiwan),’ the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday urged South Korea to correct the way Taiwan is listed in its newly launched e-Arrival card system, saying the current designation downgrades the nation’s status. South Korea rolled out the online system on Feb. 24 to gradually replace paper arrival cards, which it plans to phase out by next year. Travelers must complete the electronic form up to 72 hours before entering the country. The ministry said it has received multiple complaints from Taiwanese travelers saying that the system lists Taiwan as “China (Taiwan)” in dropdown menus for both “place of departure” and “next
VIGILANT: Enterovirus activity remains in the epidemic phase, with the CDC urging caregivers of infected children to be on the lookout for signs of severe illness Influenza activity is rising in neighboring countries, and, with temperatures forecast to drop this week, flu cases are expected to increase in the next two weeks, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. Hospitals reported 87,162 visits for flu-like illnesses between Nov. 23 and Saturday, which remained about the same level as the previous week, but nine deaths and 24 cases with serious flu complications were also confirmed last week, CDC Epidemic Intelligence Center Director Guo Hung-wei (郭宏偉) said. Flu activity reached a peak in late September before declining for eight consecutive weeks, CDC Deputy Director-General and spokesman Lin Min-cheng (林明誠)
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