According to the “Education at a Glance OECD Indicators- 2005”, educational grants provided to public and private schools of all levels in Taiwan for 2004 made up 6.15% of the GDP, 0.35% above the OECD average of 5.8%. The statistics indicate the government’s emphasis on education and enhancement of the nation’s strength. In recent years, the government’s budget for education saw a significant increase. On the other hand, the Department’s budget for educational expenses makes up 39.66% of the total budget, reflecting our persistent efforts in promoting education. We maintain the view that investment in education is investment in the nation’s future. A nation’s competitiveness may only be enhanced and improved with the support of quality human resources.

Upon assuming the responsibilities of overseeing the Taipei municipal school system in 2002, our focus has been centered on:

“Whole-Person Education, Life Education and Perpetual Education”. We promote the concept of taking “better education as the center and potential courses as the radius to draw out the circle of people-oriented education”. The Department has the following goals including strengthening campus safety, promoting democratic education, learning through daily life events and multi-faceted teaching as well as making our campus more like a community”. On the basis of our goals, we have developed three major visions as follows:

1. Every student will be equipped with basic life knowledge and habits, such as to love oneself, and to respect others.
2. In every educational activity, students shall ensure comprehensive learning and balanced development in all five aspects including virtue, knowledge, physical, sociability, and aesthetics.
3. Each policy of education will be based on life education, complete learning, and whole-person development, enabling each student to carry out multiple life values and self-enhancement to create a peaceful society.

In recent years, the Department’s educational policy has been developed in line with contemporary thoughts and trends in the world educational reform. In addition to realizing the vision of promoting better education, we place strong emphasis on the core value of ethical character, encompassing the continuation of the ethical culture and cultivation of the awareness for democracy and gender rights. By undertaking dynamic actions including research and development, human resource cultivation, and policy promotion, evaluations and reviews, we continue to broaden the quality development and immense influence of Taipei City’s educational system with the optimal goal of accomplishing the macro effects of education.

In line with the pursuit of promoting quality, excellence, betterment, innovation and specialization in education, the Department maintains the image of Taipei City as a healthy, radiant and lively international city. Following social developments and trends, our various offices and social education organizations have proposed the concept of “Betterness Education” in 2003, formulated the first “quality school indicators” in 2004 and introduced the theme years including “Education Quality Year”, “Education Innovation Year” and “Education Specialization Year” in 2005, 2006 and 2007 respectively. The primary purpose is to promote the annual educational subject, develop featuring educational thoughts, continue the finer quality of education, plan for innovative educational endeavors and construct a premium educational environment to leave a marked record in the history of education.

Educational work is a long-term project and ideas need to be passed down for the best results. As educational reform comes into a new era, we will see the gradual formation of an individual's daily ability, social values, the nation’s competitiveness and an entirely new culture. Therefore, our staff work diligently and thoughtfully to judge exterior objective qualification elements to have inner confidence. To make the breakthrough, we are willing to work earnestly to offer our citizens a contemporary educational environment that offers diversity, shows care and respect for others, is filled with harmony and forward looking.

At the commencement of a new year, we take the opportunity to compile an introductory manual on the Department with “Professional Leadership & Quality Development” as our core objective. We expect to double the benefits of our past accomplishments and exert the cumulative power to enhance the added value of education. Moreover, we hope to work together with all our partners in the field to create new opportunities for the perpetual development of the city’s educational work. Your comments and suggestions are more than welcome.