Character Education in Taiwan: A Reflection of Historical Shifts in Sociocultural Contexts

Overview & Synopsis

Education systems across the world reflect the values of the cultures and societies they represent. Character education is often framed as a response to certain values emphasized in a given context, reflecting the commonly accepted traits of good character and responsible citizenship in which learners are engaged. This article describes the nature of character education in Taiwan from 1949 to the present. It highlights how citizenship education (often referred to as "civic education" in Taiwan) reflects the interrelationships among the cultural, economic, political, and educational layers of the Taiwanese society, which is essentially based on the Confucian philosophy. The article portrays the universal symbiotic relationship existing between the value system of a society and its stance about character education.