TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Schools all over Taiwan actively promote bilingual courses to achieve the country's goal of becoming bilingual by 2030. However, some municipalities are facing a shortage of bilingual teachers.
There are 121 job vacancies in Tainan City, and although 160 people applied, only 89 educators passed the language test.
In contrast, Taipei City's implementation of bilingual courses is proceeding more smoothly. They have an adequate number of teachers and project that over 100 schools will offer bilingual education by the 2023-2024 school year.
Nevertheless, the National Federation of Teachers Union believes that Taiwan's bilingual policy is against the spirit of the Development of National Languages Act.
They are concerned that this policy might lead to the neglect of other courses and educational resources. Additionally, the union worries about the challenges students might face.
The Chairman of the National Federation of Teachers Unions, Hou Chun-liang, said, "We believe that individuals should acquire diverse professional knowledge in their strongest language."
The debate on bilingual education continues in Taiwan. With a shortage of teachers and differing opinions, the government and educational institutions must collaborate and find the best solution to ensure that students receive the most comprehensive and high-quality education.