Children in Taiwan

All Taiwanese are busy, but most busy of all are the children. Maybe this is part of training them for their adult life, but for sure, they are so busy.

Already when they are in kindergarten the education starts. My little nephew Jojo told his mother, during our last stay in Taiwan, that he prefer her to move him to the English track of his kindergarten, as he was frustrated with his level of English (he is 5!).

Once they move on to elementary school the speed really takes off. They have test all the time, and they need to perform well every time, as the result influence their further education. They seem to constantly behind. There is a huge industry for extra classes, and all pupils attend these classes after school. They must, or they will be behind the level. On top of this, there is creative skills, such as sport, art etc. and these activities are maintained in the evening and the weekend. The most popular are piano and violin and for girls the ballet.

Travelling in Taiwan, you are constantly reminded of this race to be among the best. Children tell you, what number they are in the class, at least if they are high. I cannot remember that I ever attended a lunch or dinner with a family, without the parents constantly try to push their children to speak English with me to train this ability. They all think, that my English is so good, and maybe it is, compared to their skills. Taiwanese children get lot's of education in English, but as all the tests are in writing, they ignore the skill of talking - why bother - tests and results are everything.

Once the children are off school, in the vacation, all good parents have prepared a long schedule of summer classes - back to back - in order for their children to be well prepared to next semester. In other words, they are never off, as there is always something to do, something to improve, something to learn...

Naturally I exaggerate a bit, but as a Dane, you cannot stop thinking "poor children" when will they ever have time to think, to get bored, to develop as persons, but this behaviour is off course cultural.  This is the way to do it in Taiwan, and also in all other Asian countries. This is the way to be a good parent. It is your duty to do your best, to ensure that your children get a spot on the best schools, or at least as good as your abilities can get you. There is a big difference from top to bottom in both society and in the school system, so your life changes quite a bit, if you go one way or the other. It is the duty of the parent, that the children go as far as they can. If making home work is good, then making a lot of home work is better.

And there are so many children out here, there are so many people - at least now there are. There are however indications, that Taiwanese are so busy, that they have no time for children. Taiwan has one of the lowest birth rates in the world - under 1 child per couple...