The primary five social textbooks from 3 publishing houses in Nanyi and other publishing houses were returned and requested to be re-edited. Minister of Education Pan Wenzhong (middle) clearly explained the reason when answering the question today. They were returned because they did not meet the necessary regulations of the syllabus.

(Photo by reporter Lin Xiaoyun)

[Reporter Lin Xiaoyun/Taipei Report] Pan Wenzhong, Minister of Education of the Education and Culture Committee of the Legislative Yuan, delivered a special report on "Relevant Regulations on the Textbook Review Mechanism Edited According to the Twelve-Year National Education Curriculum". Primary 5 social science textbooks were sent back to the National Academy of Education for review and had to be re-edited. Minister of Education Pan Wenzhong responded that textbooks in the social field of elementary schools must adopt "thematic integration", but the textbooks submitted by the three publishers are still separated by previous fragments Compiled in the same way, after review by the Textbook Approval Committee of the Academy of National Education, all of them have violated the necessary regulations of the syllabus, so the publisher is requested to re-edit according to the regulations.

Legislator Zheng Zhengqian questioned the National Academy of Education’s return of textbooks as de-Sinicization based on a media report. Pan Wenzhong sternly denied it, emphasizing that he took this question seriously, and the reason for the return was that it did not meet the syllabus requirements.

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Legislator Zhang Liao Wanjian said that according to the National Academy of Education, it is obvious that the content of the textbooks does not meet the requirements of the new syllabus, and the textbooks are still edited according to the structure and context of the old syllabus. Only social science textbooks need to be recompiled. A total of 102 volumes of textbooks for the 112 school year were submitted for review, including 46 volumes for elementary schools, 2 volumes for junior high schools, 20 volumes for general high schools, and 34 volumes for technical high schools). 14 volumes, the overall new syllabus textbook recompilation rate is about 40% in the field of natural science in elementary schools, about 50% in the field of science and technology in junior high schools, and about 20% to 30% in the fields of fitness and society.

Fan Yun, a legislator, said that the National Academy of Education has explained that the reason for the withdrawal of the book is that the publishing house did not grasp the key points of integrating the 108 syllabus areas and breaking the subdivisions. It is not for de-Sinicization at all.

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However, this also shows that the promotion of the 108 syllabus is not smooth enough. Even the publishers who compile textbooks do not know how to compile them. The Ministry of Education should review and improve.

Pan Wenzhong explained that since the implementation of the 12-year National Education Curriculum, the Academy of National Education has accepted applications for approval of about 400 to 500 volumes of junior high school and high school vocational textbooks each year. At present, junior high schools and high schools have completed the first round of preliminary approval and entered the revision review stage , the elementary school is expected to complete the first round of first-version approval in 2 years.

Pan Wenzhong said that the Academy of Orthodox Education will hold a tripartite discussion for assistance in the near future. The three publishers are all experienced publishing houses. The Academy of Orthodox Education has also adopted a flexible approach. Originally, it was submitted for review together in one academic year. School selections are provided, but at the same time textbook quality must still be ensured.

Pan Wenzhong emphasized that primary schools are centered on the theme of life, and the new syllabus is viewed from the perspective of children, without any political ideology and standpoint. Starting from school education, students can learn close to life, so that learning is not something far away, but Things in life arouse students' interest.