The legislature has decided not to hold a special session over the history curriculum guideline issue. Students had stormed the legislature last Friday to call for a special session to revoke the new controversial curriculum changes which they believe are China-centric.
But the legislature did suggest that the Ministry of Education immediately begin to review the new curriculum and allow schools to freely select their textbooks for the 2015 academic year. Ruling and opposition lawmakers reached this decision after talks on this controversial issue on Tuesday. The new curriculum guidelines came into effect on August 1.
Education Minister Wu Se-hwa was present at the lawmakers’ discussions and also agreed with the decision to have a committee review the guidelines. Deputy Education minister Lin Teng-jiao said the ministry would act immediately to have a committee review the new curriculum guidelines.
Legislature President Wang Jin-pyng said he hopes the protests can be over soon so that students can return to their normal lives.