The Latest News--hortsci

To facilitate substantial exchanges of teacher training and incentives to reward well-performing universities, as well as to enhance consensus on improving teacher training quality via sharing of ideas, the Ministry of Education holds “Joint Meeting of Supervisors from Teacher-Training Universities 2008” on Dec. 3rd and 4th. Held at the library auditorium on Lantan Campus, NCYU, the meeting involves supervisors from teacher training universities in exchanging reflections on the focus and development of teacher training work and advancing corresponding strategies. During the meeting, 2008 Teacher Training Model Award and Award for Outstanding Teaching Practice are presented.

There are a hundred and fifty attendees to this grand meeting, including Cheng Jei-Cheng, Minister of Education; Su Teh-hsiang, Director of Department of Secondary Education, Ministry of Education; President Zhang Hui-Bo from National Changhua University of Education; Vice President Huang Dong-Fu from PingTung University of Education; NCYU President Lee Ming-Jen; Chen Yi-Chin, Chief Executive of the Office of Legislator Chiang Yi-Hsiung; Lin Liang-Chin, Deputy Director of Department of Education, Chiayi City Government; as well as Deans of Academic Affairs and Supervisors of the Center for Teacher Education from teacher-training universities in Taiwan. Issues explored range from the focus and development of teacher training work and related statutes, certification of guidance teachers and professional development of school system, and analysis of supply and demand of teacher training, to the corresponding strategies and transformational mechanisms of teacher-training universities in face of the trend towards fewer children

In his opening address, Minister of Education Cheng Jei-Cheng expresses his gratitude to all the teacher-trainers from different universities for their attendance and to the winning teachers and students for the Teacher Training Model Award and Award for Outstanding Teaching Practice for their unfaltering dedication. Minister Cheng stresses that “As goes an old saying “a good teacher rejuvenates a country”. Teacher training is a job with great significance, while teachers are the key to successful education. Teaching practice is an integral part of teacher-training education. Good teaching practice creates better linkage for the entire teacher training system. Crucial in determining success of teaching practice is good collaboration among students, advisers at universities, and advising teachers at the schools where the students practice. Besides, issues regarding practicing before certification or certification of schools where teaching practice occurs shall be addressed by all the related departments and schools.

Minister Cheng adds that he has been ruminating on how to make improvement on the teacher training examination system and chasing solutions to the problems of the training, employment and retirement for the entire teacher system, which he hope would emerge in the next half year. Furthermore, a long-mooted expansion of public expense system aims to involve more prominent students in the teaching system. The Ministry will make immediate response to issues such as the arrangement of on-the-job training, lifelong learning and campus culture for teachers.

2008 Teacher Training Model Award and Award for Outstanding Teaching Practice go respectively to associate Professor Huang Yong-He from National Taipei University of Education and associate Professor Zhang Shu-Fang from National Taichung University. They share their winning projects and exchange ideas with all the attendees in the field of teacher training. In addition, Tsai Ching-Hwa, Director of the Education Bureau, Kaohsiung City Government, is also invited to deliver a keynote speech titled “Certification of Guidance Teachers and Professional Development of School System” by the MOE.

On the afternoon of Dec. 3rd, all the attendees pay personal visit at Concordia Middle School (CMC) to observe the English teaching and English teaching and teaching supervision program, hosted by CMC President Lin Xi-Lin. English teaching and character training is demonstrated and explained by Chen Xi-Zhi and Qian Pei-Wen. All the attendees learn some valuable ideas on teaching strategies and techniques after observation their demonstration.

Keynote speeches and the discussions that follow take place on the morning of Dec. 4th. For the two keynote speeches, Su Teh-hsiang, Director of Department of Secondary Education under MOE and Prof. Chen Shun-Fen from the Teacher Education Center, National Tsing Hua University separately address the topic of “Analysis of supply and demand of teacher training” and “Corresponding strategies and transformational mechanisms of teacher-training universities in face of the trend towards fewer children” respectively. With He Xi-Hui, Chairperson of the Center for Teacher Education, Soochow University, acting as the introducer, all the attendees brainstorm to map possible directions for future teacher-training innovations, which the authorities concerned can factor in while trying to amend Teachers Education Law and related policies.