According to a survey by an online educational website Parenting, 60-percent
of Taiwan's public elementary and junior high schools now offer bilingual
courses.

In Jia-yi, Tai-nan and Kaohsiung city, that rate is 100-percent.

However, the standards that local governments used for bilingual courses vary
a lot. Some define them as having native speakers as teachers, while others
only see if there are relevant government subsidies.

Asked about their response to the bilingual education policy so far,
77-percent of the local governments are worried about not having enough
teachers in the field, and 32-percent express concern about insufficient
funds.

According to the goals set by the Ministry of Education, all elementary and
junior high schools nationwide will be able to conduct English classes
entirely in English by the year 2030, and one-third of the schools can
implement bilingual teaching in certain subject areas.

(JL)