Education

Taiwan's literacy rate is over 93%, the illerate comprised mostly of the elderly who's generation missed the opportunity for education because of WWII and its disruption.

The Taiwanese are obsessed with higher education and admission to a university is determined by 'life-or-death' exams (Taiwanese students claim that competition is so fierce for the top colleges, and the resulting quality of education and students who are admitted into the top schools actually turn Harvard or other top Ivy League schools in the US or UK into 'back-ups' instead of the prestigious, cream-of-the-crop schools they are regarded as in the West.)

A whole industry of private cram schools (called Bushibans 'Boo-shee-bans') has emerged, which makes Taiwan an ESL teachers market! Unfortunately, the poor students in Taiwan (and their parents who pressure them to be better than their peers...) have to spend all their nights and weekends and holidays attending these schools. Science and technology are the emphasis with about 35% of Taiwan's 500,000 university students studying engineering.

Foreigners with a decent proficiency in Chinese can be admitted to a university in Taiwan and receive a degree after completing a course of study. However, because of the level of difficulty and competition for university places, only a small percentage of foreigners are actually admitted each year (mostly 'ABC' - American/Foreign Born Chinese who are exempted from the difficult exams.) However, it is very easy for foreigners to enroll in private academy Chinese-language classes (see Language Study section.)