The Ministry of Education yesterday announced new rules that would ban giving tests to most elementary and junior-high school students during morning study and afternoon rest periods.
The amendments to regulations governing public education at elementary schools and junior high schools are to be implemented on Aug. 1.
The revised rules stipulate that schools are forbidden to use after-school tutoring periods, extracurricular activities during summer or winter vacation or after-school study periods to teach new course material.
Photo: George Tsorng, Taipei Times
In addition, schools would be prohibited from giving tests or exams to students in grades one to eight during morning study and afternoon break periods, the ministry said.
Students in grade nine, who are preparing to take senior-high entrance exams, would be allowed to take practice tests during those periods as before, it added.
The regulation authorizes schools to enforce the rules by conducting inspections and publish the results on their official Web site, the ministry said.
Valid inspections must include a review of records, in-person checks on classrooms and questionnaires for students and faculty members, the ministry added.
Taiwanese elementary school consists of grades one to six, junior high school grades seven to nine, and senior high school grades 10 to 12.
Separately, the ministry noted the Executive Yuan’s approval of a proposed bill that increases the tax deductible for those that donate to private universities, in a bid to stabilize failing schools.
Article 62 of the Private School Act (私立學校法) allows donations to private schools by people or entities to be calculated as deductions or business expenses and losses for income tax, the ministry said.
The draft bill would increase personal tax deductions to 70 percent of consolidated income, up from the 50 percent limit currently stipulated, it said.
Businesses would be allowed to count donations as losses and expenses for a maximum amount equal to 35 percent of consolidated income, up from the 25 percent limit currently stipulated, the ministry said.
Under the proposed change, some personal donations to the Foundation for Private Schools would be treated the same as donations to the government, which means that no limits are placed on their share of consolidated income, it said.
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