Scott Sommers on the new education law regarding kindergartens and nurseries, and the increasing amount of government interference in this end of the market
This is not the only area of ESL in Taiwan in which the government has been taking quite big steps, if anything, the introduction and promotion of the GEPT is also part of the government’s stance to increase the standards of English in high schools and above, while to some greater extent standardizing the learning of English throughout the country. It is increasingly being used as an additional measure of selection for students in private schools and universities, and also as an exit criteria.
I do predict that the government will if anything continue to increase the amount of interference in the ESL market at the sub-18’s level to a greater extent, and at the post university level to a lesser extent.
For some of us, this means extra opportunities, but for others, it means a drying up of traditional options for teaching. Some give, some take.
Kenneth