wfn.org | Taiwan Ministry of Education Declares "The Year of Life

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Topic: Taiwan Ministry of Education Declares "The Year of Life Education"

Taiwan Church News 2582  (26th August 2001)
Reported by Uidy Kao, Written by David Alexander

    The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) and other Christian groups
have offered support to the ministry of education as a new curriculum on
life education begins to make its way into schools all over Taiwan this
year.  The ministry wants Christians to understand what is included in
the curriculum, and Christians see a chance to enter the campuses and
cooperate in the study of the meaning of life with teachers and students
there.  A seminar on the new curriculum was held by the PCT General
Assembly's education committee on August 20 and 21.
      Wu Shu-shen, associate professor of health education at National
Normal University addressed participants describing life education as
"basic whole-person education and whole person concern.  It includes the
areas of health, religion, ethics and death.  It is designed to help
each student understand the meanings of relationships to self, to
others, to the environment and to the entire cosmos.  Christians may
find in this curriculum a way to inculcate Christian values."
     Hwang Li-hwa, a head teacher at Taipei's Bai-ling elementary school
pointed out "The ministry's nine year design is suitable.  Life
education is included as basic curriculum.  Although in any one year not
many hours are devoted to it, yet the content is flexible and can be
blended with other lessons.  Family members of Christian students or
even neighborhood church groups can help schools and students in this
curriculum to understand life and the world."
     PCT education secretary  Rev. Chiou Chiong-yuan said, "This seminar
was held because when the new semester begins at elementary and middle
schools next month the new curriculum will begin to be taught.  Much of
the contents of the lessons were adapted from materials that the
churches had on hand.  So church resources are moving into schools.  As
time passes the PCT and other Christian groups will coordinate what we
are teaching by way of life education in the churches with what the
students are getting at school, maintaining the life education focus
from two directions.  The church can also offer evaluation tools and
in-service training modules for public school teachers."
For more information: Chiou Chiong-yuan   chelsea@mail.pct.org.tw