Taipei, June 1 (CNA) A visiting British education official said Friday that he was impressed by the high levels of performance of Taiwanese students and encouraged more Taiwanese students to go to U.K. to pursue higher education.
Taiwanese students can attain high levels of performance, particularly in mathematics and science subjects, said Andrew Adonis, U.K. Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Schools.
Adonis was speaking during a private visit to Taipei to look at the strengths of the Taiwanese education system, in particular the factors that explain the sustained high attainment of Taiwanese children in standard international tests.
The schools he visited -- Jianguo Senior High School and Renai Junior High School -- have seen substantial increases in creativity education in their curricula, as well as self-directed learning and life skills learning, Adonis said, adding that this is something the U.K. education system can learn from.
He also spoke at National Chengchi University about the U.K. experience of education reform, noting that there are moves to give schools greater autonomy in school management and to give parents greater choice in terms of the types of schools on offer.
The U.K. government has placed "great emphasis on education" since Prime Minister Tony Blair assumed office 10 years ago, he claimed. One of the key priorities in U.K. education reform has been to "get the right leadership and teachers in schools, " Adonis said.
Among the practical measures taken are increasing teachers' salaries by 20 percent and those of principals by 25 percent, he said. Currently there are 40,000 more teachers than there were 10 years ago, he added.
In terms of higher education, the U.K. government is seeking to expand the numbers of universities and work-related degree courses and to increase funding and investment on leading-edge science.
Adonis visited Hong Kong and Singapore prior to his arrival in Taiwan. On Saturday he is scheduled to discuss aspects of Taiwan's education reform with academics and experts.