More than 66 per cent of junior high school graduates will continue their schooling this fall, a survey by the Ministry of Education showed.
Nearly 350,000 students are leaving junior high school this summer. Of these, 230,535 or 66.35 per cent plan to continue their education.
There is enough room for them in senior high schools and vocational schools.
A meeting chaired by Education Minister Chu Hwei-sun gave this breakdown: 72,195 to high schools, 136,050 to vocational schools and 22,290 to five-year junior colleges. The ratio of students at high schools to vocational schools and five-year junior colleges is 31.32 per cent to 68.67. That is near the 30-70 goal.
Of those dropping out of school, 64,675 will require government assistance. The Education Ministry has been trying to create 120,000 job opportunities and 10,000 places in vocational training.
Nine-year free education began in 1968. Sixth-graders are admitted to junior high schools without examination. Junior high education is not compulsory.
Last year, students left school after finishing junior high. A survey by the National Youth Commission showed that male dropouts were having difficulty finding jobs.
Schools have trebled in last 28 years
The number of schools has increased three times since 1950, the Ministry of Education reported.
There were 1,504 schools in 1950 (4.18 per 100 square kilometers) and 4,572 in 1977 (12.63 per 100 square kilometers).
The teacher-student ratio was 1:29.90 in 1977 compared with 1:36.35 in 1950.
The number of students per class has declined from 51.75 to 47.03.
There were 140 students per 1,000 persons in 1950 and 271 per 1,000 in 1977.
In the 1950-51 school year, 86 per cent of all students were enrolled in primary schools, 11.4 per cent in secondary schools, 0.6 per cent in colleges and universities, and 2 per cent in other educational institutions.
The 1977 breakdown was 52.28 per cent in primary schools, 34.36 per cent in secondary schools, 6.68 per cent in colleges and universities and 6.68 per cent in other educational institutions.
In 1950, there were seven institutions of higher learning in Taiwan - one university, three colleges and three junior colleges.
By the end of last year, the figure was 101, of which 9 were universities, 16 colleges and 76 junior colleges.
There were 6,665 college students in 1950 and 299,414 in 1977.
Renewed emphasis placed on culture
Although economic expansion has brought the good life to the Republic of China's island province of Taiwan, spiritual development needs to be encouraged through emphasis on culture.
This was the thinking of the late President Chiang Kai-shek when he initiated the Chinese Cultural Renaissance Movement several years ago.
He called for a re-evaluation of traditional culture to counter-balance materialism.
In the late President's last testament, he urged the people "to rejuvenate our national culture." The response has been good. President Chiang Ching-kuo recently announced plans to establish a cultural center in each city and county.
The Central Government's budget for fiscal 1979 includes funds for fine arts, literature, rehabilitation of scenic spots and historic relics, and expansion of the Central Library.
Among the first of these projects to get under way is a giant arts hall in Taipei to be built at a cost of NT$350.4 million (US$9.2 million).
Tourism continues substantial growth
Tourist arrivals in the first four months of this year totaled 421,909, an increase of 32,026 persons or 8.2 per cent compared with the same period of last year. The Tourism Bureau of the Communications Ministry said 104,236 visitors came in April alone. The figure represented an increase of 10,397 persons or 11.1 per cent over the same month in 1977.
Of the April total, 89,635 were foreigners, up 7.7 per cent, and 14,601 were overseas Chinese, up 37.2 per cent.
A breakdown of arrivals in April showed:
- Japanese: 43,263, 41.5 per cent of the total, up 2.9 per cent from April, 1977.
- Americans: 15,630, 14.99 per cent of the total, up 8.8 per cent.
- Overseas Chinese: 14,601, 14.02 per cent of the total.
Each tourist stayed in the Republic of China an average of 7.02 days in April. The average number of arrivals each day was 3,474 persons.
The Tourism Bureau estimated 1.24 million visitors will come this year compared with 1,110,182 last year. More than US$500 million in foreign exchange was earned in 1977.
Thirty-one tourist hotels with 11,767 rooms will be built by 1980 to end the shortage in Taiwan.
Eight hotels of international standard with 2,749 rooms and eight tourist-class hotels with 1,237 rooms will be opened in Taipei this year.
Four hotels of international standard with 1,114 rooms and two tourist hotels with 350 rooms will be completed in 1979. Four hotels of international standard with 2,233 rooms will open in 1980.
In 1979, four tourist hotels with 851 rooms will be built at Taichung and Kaohsiung and another with 54 rooms at Lotung.
In 1980, eight hotels of international standard with 2,817 rooms will be built in Taipei County, Taoyuan County, Taichung, Changhua, Lishan, Kaohsiung and Makung, and two tourist hotels with 322 rooms in Pingtung County and Chiayi.
45 theaters show movies in Taipei
There are 45 theaters in Taipei City and 40 in the suburbs.
Of the 45 in Taipei, 27 show Chinese films and 18 show Western features. Most are located Hsimenting area.
Ticket prices range from NT$50 to NT$60 for Western movies and from NT$30 to NT$40 for Chinese movies. Students, servicemen and police get discounts.
The cheapest place to see movies is the Ching Kuan Theater on Tunghua North Road. Two Western movies are shown for NT$28. There may be standing room only.
Three years ago, an 800-seat theater opened in Hsimenting. Tickets cost more than at other theaters but cleanliness and comfort paid off. Many smaller theaters have been opened since.
Chungshan is street where Dr. Sun lived
Chungshan North Road is named for Dr. Sun Yat-sen (Sun Chung-shan, founding father of the Republic of China) who stayed a t the present Chinese Youth Service Center on Chungshan North Road Section I when he visited Taiwan.
Chungshan North Road, one of the commercial centers of Taipei, was a tranquil residential area some 20 years ago. Now the land price is NT$200,000 for one ping (36 square feet) for office space.
The area was devoted to farms during the Ch'ing dynasty (1644-1911). The commercial area was then along the Tamsui River.
When the Japanese occupied the island in 1895, the road was developed for housing and called Chih (imperial order) Shih (envoy) road to honor a Japanese colonel who died in fighting against the Taiwanese and was buried at Yuanshan.
The road was widened to 40 meters in 1936 and more than 600 acacias planted. It was the first such boulevard in Taipei. Camphor and maple trees have been planted since.
Many commercial and office buildings, hotels and restaurants have been constructed in the last 20 years. Around 100,000 people live in the area.
One ping of space on the rust floor of a building sells for NT$250,000 and that on upper floors at from NT$150,000 to NT$70,000.
In streets off Chungshan Nungan and Shuancheng, for example - many apartment buildings of six stories or so also blossomed over the years. Rent is NT$500 to NT$700 per ping.
Foreigners compete in Chinese language
One American said:
"The people of Taiwan are extraordinarily good to us. The Chinese respect their parents and elders, which imparts harmony to their families and society. The development of Taiwan and its standard of living are both improving very fast. Foreigners may freely promote understanding and friendship with the Chinese people."
Dennis W. McKeever was giving his impressions of Taiwan in a Mandarin speech contest for foreigners at Tamkang College.
The contestants were divided into three groups. Seven had studied mandarin for more than a year and six for less than that. The other five students spoke Taiwanese.
Most of the foreign students said the most difficult part of learning mandarin is mastering the four tones. Nobuko Arai of Japan said she could not distinguish between "fire truck" and "train" (both are pronounced "huoche" in mandarin).
Students recalled interesting experiences. Francine St. Onge from Canada said, "I wanted to say 'good morning' to teacher but it came out as 'goodbye.' I wanted to ask my teacher if she liked to eat Japanese food but instead asked if she liked to eat Japanese people. And I cannot distinguish between 'stove' and 'donkey.' "
American wins translation prize
David L. Steelman, an American, won a prize from the Republic of China Literary Council for his translations into English.
The 36-year-old Steelman came to the Republic of China in 1972 and teaches at the National Central University, National Normal University and Soochow University .
He has been translating modern Chinese novels since 1975. Included are Miss Chang Hsiao-feng's "October Sun," Hou Cheng's "Carefree Happiness," Chang Hsi-kuo's "The Wooden Flute," Chu Hsi-ning's ''The General," Ti Yi's "The Noodle Lady," Huang Chun-ming's "Two Sign Painters," Chang Yung-hsiang's "Autumn Execution," Chiang Hsiao-yun's "A Day for Losing Umbrellas" and Wang Lan's "'The Blue And The Black."
He is writing a book about the traditional way of reviewing the Chinese classical novel "Dream of the Red Chmaber."
60 to qualify as policewomen
Some 60 women will be chosen from 2,024 applicants to be policewomen this year.
There are already 250 policewomen in Taipei, Kaohsiung and Taichung.
Most are assigned to traffic police, customs offices or other light duties.
Policewomen's jobs are regarded as more desirable than those of policemen. Monthly pay starts at NT$5,000.
Women are given a year's training, including combat skills, shooting and judo lessons.
They must be between 18 and 23 years old, over 162 cm tall and weighing more than 46 kilograms. They may not marry in their first three years of service.
Only six policewomen's entrance examinations have been held in the last 31 years.
Of the 250 policewomen, most are high school graduates from southern Taiwan and the daughters of policemen.
16,000 Taipei taxis support 150,000
There are 16,000 taxis in Taipei providing 35,418 jobs and support for 150,000 persons.
Driving a taxi is hard work but pays well. Drivers can make about NT$10,000 a month, which is more than many government employees receive.
The work is one day on and one day off. Driving is virtually continuous when on duty.
Police have tried to persuade taxis to wait for passengers to save gas and curtail traffic. But most taxis cruise to seek fares.
Even if a driver owns his cab, he must belong to a company. This is the regulation.
The driver who owns his own cab usually rents it for NT$500 a day when he isn't working.
Cabbies who pay NT$500 in rent can still make NT$500 or NT$600 a day.
The commonest taxis are Yue Loong 1,200 cc and 1,600 cc cars costing around NT$200,000. A newcomer is the 2,000 Yue Loong diesel. The diesel costs more but fuel is NT$5 a liter compared with NT$14 for gasoline.
Taxis wear out fast. A cab which cost NT$200,000 new may bring only NT$100,000 after three years.