Humanities subjects will not be overlooked in Taiwan’s educational policies, despite the strong emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects. That’s according to Education Minister Cheng Ying-yao (鄭英耀) on Wednesday during his first media gathering since taking office.
During the Education Ministry’s media gathering, Cheng and his team outlined the core principles of their educational policies. He also stressed the value of teamwork and innovation, moving away from a top-down policy approach.
In response to media inquiries about whether future policies favor STEM disciplines over the humanities, Cheng said that nurturing talent in the humanities and social sciences is essential. He vowed that under his tenure, the humanities will not be neglected.
Cheng says that while technology advances human civilization, it also brings challenges that require interdisciplinary collaboration. He expressed hopes for a more thoughtful and empathetic society and he says that the humanities play a crucial role in this.