Ministry of Education Prohibits Foreign Teachers and English Learning on Taiwan
Aristotle
on Taiwan
In a pair of published orders,
http://www.tealit.com/tn.october12003.htm
the Ministry of Education of Taiwan has announced that as of October
1st, 2003 foreign teachers are no longer allowed to teach in Early
Childhood Educational (ECE) schools, rescinding their May, 31st, 2002
directive that had allowed the practice. Early Childhood Educational
(ECE) school teachers whose contracts were signed before October 1st
will be allowed to finish the term of their contracts if not
apprehended before then. Announcements were mailed to schools
nationwide.
>From the onset of the May 31st order, groups of legislators and
scholars had strongly criticized the presence of foreign teachers and
second language classes in Early Childhood Educational (ECE) schools,
arguing that Early Childhood Educational (ECE) schools-aged students
were at risk of being not sufficiently socialized in their own language
and culture. The Education Ministry cites specifically the issues of
Early Childhood Development, Teacher Qualifications, and the growing
cultural biases and competition between the variety of "Western"
Early Childhood Educational (ECE) schools teaching English. The
announcement further mentions an August 27th, 2003 decision by the
Executive Yuan as having forced their hand. Some commentators speculate
that the issue is being used for political gain in the run up to the
presidential elections.
The new edict not only informs schools about the restriction on foreign
teachers, but also contains a specific reminder to Early Childhood
Educational (ECE) schools that they must comply with all relevant
regulations or face prosecution, a statement that was interpreted by
some as meaning schools using non-native designations even just in the
names of their schools, such as "bi-lingual", "American", etc.
could be censured.
Also, while not in the directive, the Ministry of Education will remain
responsible for certifying teachers to teach at all levels. Announcing
that plans dictated in the WTO accession treaties to move the authority
of Job Specific Work Permits (H1B) over to the Ministry of Labor's Non
Indentured Servant Employee section have been pushed back to an
unspecified completion date.
All foreign nationals on Taiwan are advised that a majority of the
elected and appointed government on Taiwan strongly opposes recognition
of NON Chinese people's human rights on Taiwan. Indentured servitude is
alive and well on Taiwan and nearly all persons who are subjugated as
indentured servants are Non Chinese.
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SSETT