Dilemmas of Education Reform in Taiwan: Internationalization or Localization?

As Western modernity has achieved global proportions, the race for development in non-Western countries feeds back and reinforces the compulsive attempt to "keep up," in a universal process of mimicry. The theories, models, and concepts derived from Western experiences are justifiably universalized. As part of the closely interconnected global system resulted from Western rationalistic logic, Taiwan cannot escape the Western influences in educational innovation. This paper first gives an historical analysis of education in Taiwan, and then discusses the current issues of education reform in Taiwan. It cites 12 education reform mandates set forth by the government in 1998: (1) revamping national education projects, K-12; (2) fostering pre-school and kindergarten education programs; (3) removing teacher education and in-service training programs; (4) promoting impeccable diversified vocational education; (5) pursuing excellence in higher education and its development; (6) advocating lifelong learning projects; (7) strengthening educational programs designed for the handicapped; (8) invigorating educational programs for the native Taiwanese; (9) expanding access to higher education; (10) creating a new system integrating teaching, guidance, and counseling; (11) increasing the educational budget for educational research; and (12) accelerating the promotion of family values/ethics through parental education. The paper discusses six trends and issues in education in Taiwan and concludes that tensions seem to be rising between internationalization and localization in education reform, and that the final ideal should lie in the harmonious integration of localization and internationalization. Contains 30 references. (BT)