Taipei Times
Date: Sep 04, 2017
By: Chen Wei-han / Staff reporter

Pro-independence groups yesterday called for President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) administration to implement localized education and full referendum rights to reinforce Taiwanese identification.

The Taiwan Society and affiliated groups praised the administration’s efforts to settle the issue of the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) assets, reform pensions and introduce the “five plus two” innovative industries, as well as its New Southbound Policy and Forward-looking Infrastructure Development Program.

However, they called for advancement in educational reform and full referendum rights to deepen democracy and nationalist identification.

Southern Taiwan Society vice president Tiunn Hok-chu (張復聚) said educational reform should focus on native languages to increase Taiwanese identification.

Native language education is now a “mere formality,” as native language
proficiency is not part of the college or high-school entrance exams, so students are not committed to learning the languages, Tiunn said.    [FULL  STORY]