President-elect Tsai Ing-wen says that vocational education is essential for social advancement. She was speaking Thursday at a celebration marking the 45th anniversary of a vocational school in Kaohsiung.
Tsai said it is the government’s responsibility to ensure that students receive a pragmatic education that gives them the tools they need to build successful careers. She said her administration will help bridge the gap between skills taught at school and the needs of employers.
"The progress of vocational education is key to social advancement and upgrading our industries. Vocational education decides the country’s national policies for the industry," Tsai said. "A while ago, I declared in another school that schools need to identify their positions and competitive edges, strengthen the connection between school and the workplace, and give vocational schools more flexibility in their instruction and graduation policies."
Tsai said that Taiwan needs more professionals. She said that Taiwan cannot place its focus entirely on higher education, and must teach people to respect workers in skilled trades.