40 teachers from Malaysia have come to Taiwan for a 12-day study observing primary schools and on-site teaching. This is the first time the visiting program has been reconvened since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
Hungkuang University, which began hosting the workshop over the weekend, said on Monday that the Overseas Communities Affairs Council’s (OCAC) program aligns with the Taiwan government’s New Southbound Policy. It said that it will also assist teachers in Malaysian Chinese primary schools to improve their professional skills and thereby boost the development of local Chinese education.
OCAC Vice Chairman Lu Yuan-jung (呂元榮) said at the opening ceremony that over the years a large number of overseas students from Malaysia have come to Taiwan to study. He pointed out that this is due to the Chinese-language education foundation laid by primary schools in Taiwan.
Hungkuang University Chief Operating Officer Chiang Fang-ju (蔣芳如) says that in addition to enriching teaching, the program aims to develop teachers’ skills in psychological counseling, class management, and teacher-student interaction. Through drills and practical sharing, participants can apply their skills more effectively in their home classrooms.