Government has made education compulsory for all Taiwanese ages 6 to 15. They even take on the responsibility in paying the fees during these years. Taiwan has more than 95% of its people above the age of 15 who are literate. Also, the government makes a concerted effort to ensure equal educational opportunities for all – Children from low-income families receive free textbooks and financial aid, special educational policies are implemented to cater to the people with disabilities like setting up special schools to serve the needs of these people, and supplementary schools provide education for those who missed out on schooling in their earlier years.
Academic is not everything. Physical education and moral development also play significant roles in the school's curriculum. In secondary schools, coursework can lead either to higher education or to a technical profession.
More than 1.25 million students chose to go on to a further education after completing their secondary school’s studies. Enrolling themselves in more than 100 colleges, universities and other institutions which offer a wide range of courses ranging from nuclear science to journalism.
To gain admission, students have to compete with many others in taking a joint university entrance examination. In 2004 to 2005, there were more than 142 universities and colleges in Taiwan. The largest and oldest university is National Taiwan University in Taipei.
The education system in Taiwan is considered as among the most highly ranked in the world. For example, the students scored the best math and science tests worldwide. As students study in this competitive environment, great pressure is placed on them to excel, hence causing the suicidal rates among students to be very high.
