Teachers College Education

Education for teachers is divided into two levels. The first level of education, designed to train teachers for elementary schools and kindergartens, is offered by teachers colleges which admit senior high (vocational) graduates, offering four years of education. The second level of education, designed to train teachers for secondary schools, is offered by normal universities which admit senior secondary graduates to receive four years of education.

Teachers education programs in Taiwan are basically financed by students themselves, with full public subsidy and partial aids available to some students. All graduates are required to pass a teacher qualification test, complete a one-year of internship, and then pass a second teacher qualification test before becoming qualified as a teacher. Graduates may be employed by elementary or secondary schools after the teachers qualification review committee of the school passes the review of his/her status.

With a full public subsidy, a student's tuition, books, uniforms, boarding costs, living allowances, and practicing and observation costs are all paid by the government. However, he/she has an obligation to provide teaching services after graduation.

Since the Teachers Education Law was enacted, a multitude of channels have been set up for teacher education. Normal universities (set up for students who are interested in being teachers in the future), teacher colleges, and other public and private universities having education colleges, departments, graduate programs, or courses all participate in teachers education in Taiwan.