Minister of Education Cheng Ying-yao (鄭英耀) on Thursday promised to begin a trial run next year of a university program for people in their “third chapter of life” to encourage middle-aged and older people to return to school.
Planning for the trial is expected to be completed by the end of this year and would be made public next year, Cheng said.
Cheng was responding to Taiwan People’s Party Legislator Wu Chun-cheng (吳春城) during a legislative session.
Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times
The median age in Taiwan was 19.3 years in the 1970s, but it is estimated that it would reach 52.4 by the 2040s, Wu said.
However, most universities only accept 18-year-old students, which means that the strategic planning for university admissions has not changed since the 1970s, he said.
The “strong generation” — referring to those aged 45, 55 or 60 and above, according to different definitions — controls as much as two-thirds of Taiwan’s wealth, but most of them regret not going to college, Wu added.
The education ministry should make use of the rich resources of universities, through different methods, to encourage the strong generation to return to school, the lawmaker said.
“Instead of nursing homes, let retired people enter universities,” he added.
Wu collected opinions from all sectors of society through public hearings and compiled information about special classes for bachelor degree programs and multi-specialty degree programs, he said.
Many schools have expressed willingness to promote them, he added
The Ministry of Education told Wu that, in the short term, it would entrust a professional team to develop core curriculum modules.
In the medium term, it would identify some schools to pilot a “third chapter of life university” program, while in the longer term, it plans to allow those schools to offer degrees, the ministry said.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man
RSS