School recalls craft assignment over simplified Chinese controversy

School recalls craft assignment over simplified Chinese controversy

2026-07-01

A parent from Taichung recently posted a complaint on social media about their child’s summer homework being in simplified Chinese. A craft worksheet, titled "Shirt Bouquet" to celebrate Father’s Day, used simplified characters for the title and text. In response, the school recalled the assignment. The Taichung Education Bureau has also come out to say that it issued a notice back in November 2024 stating that schools should avoid using any teaching material that uses simplified Chinese.

This elementary school summer craft assignment to make a “shirt bouquet” for Father’s Day uses only simplified Chinese characters, from the title to the instructions. The school recalled it soon after.

Parent
They took the worksheets back. All of them were collected. For educational materials, using traditional is better.

School representative
Some of the words in the instructions might be difficult for the students to understand. We discussed it with teachers and decided it’s not the most appropriate for the students’ learning, so we collected them right away.

The problematic second-grade assignment from a school in Taichung’s Shalu District was exposed by a parent on social media, with parents questioning whether the students could even read it. It also raised concerns of infiltration.

Huang Shou-ta
Taichung City Councilor (DPP)
Mayor Lu Shiow-yen must not view this as an isolated incident. There must be a systematic review and response.

Chang Jia-an
Taichung City Councilor (DPP)
This kind of cultural infiltration has already extended its reach into our schools. Is the Taichung City Government just allowing blatant infiltration to happen?

Lin Te-yu
Taichung City Councilor (DPP)
The Taichung Education Bureau must not allow schools to neglect screening materials just for convenience, allowing materials in simplified characters to flood campuses.

Politicians in the green camp have accused the Education Bureau of dereliction of duty. The bureau said it would continue to supervise schools.

Chen Ya-hsin
Education Bureau chief secretary
The Education Bureau will continue to supervise all schools in implementing regulations and strengthen review procedures for the use of classroom materials prior to purchase to avoid similar incidents from recurring.

Faced with parental concerns, the Education Bureau said in 2024 it had already sent a notice to all grade schools in the city instructing them to avoid the use of teaching materials that use simplified Chinese characters.

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#teachingmaterials #simplifiedChinese #unitedfront #Taichung #controversy #schools #education #culturalinfiltration

暑假作業變統戰?! 國小美勞教材全是”簡體字"挨轟

2026-07-01

台中市有家長，在社群媒體抱怨，小孩的暑假作業，竟然使用簡體字教材，一份勞作作業，名為向父親節致敬的"襯衫花束"，標題和內文都是簡體字，對此，校方已回收教材，教育局則強調2024年11月，已發函避免使用簡體中文教材。

打開這份國小暑假作業勞作教材，父親節襯衫花束，從標題到說明，通篇都是簡體字，引發爭議後，校方緊急回收。

[[非當事家長]]
“(教材)就收回去了，全部都收回去了。學習方面的話，還是繁體字較好。”

[[校方人員]]
“說明書上面，可能有一些文字學生可能沒辦法辨識，也跟老師有討論過了，這樣比較不適合學生來學習，所以我們就緊急趕快回收。”

家長社群媒體踢爆，台中市沙鹿區某國小二年級暑假作業，這份美勞材料全是簡體字，小朋友看得懂嗎？網友質疑難道校園被滲透了嗎？

[[台中市議員(民) 黃守達]]
“盧秀燕市長不能把此視為個案，應該要有系統性檢討改進。”

[[台中市議員(民) 張家銨]]
“這樣的文化滲透，已經把觸手伸到校園裡去，這樣明目張膽，台中市政府是在放任嗎？”

[[台中市議員(民) 林德宇]]
“市政府教育局不應放任學校基於採購上的便利，而沒有去辨別或是做任何篩選，讓簡體字教材充斥校園裡面。”

綠營議員砲轟負責教育局督導失職，教育局強調會持續督導。

[[台中市政府教育局主任秘書陳雅新]]
“教育局將持續督導各校落實相關規定，強化教材教學用品，採購前的檢視機制，避免類似情形再次發生。”

面對家長擔憂，簡體字教材衝擊，教育局表示，2024年已發函全市高中以下學校，避免使用簡體中文教材，以免影響孩子的學習。

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Through this international tech drive, organizers hope to bridge the digital divide for Malawian students, proving that a refurbished computer can be a powerful tool for global connection and improving lives through education.

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ICDF celebrates 3rd decade of sharing Taiwan’s experiences worldwide

Today marks the 30th anniversary of the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund, an organization that shares Taiwan’s technology, talent, and experiences with diplomatic partners around the world. The fund is an example of soft power that shows, in just half a century, how Taiwan has transformed from an aid recipient to a development partner that helps other countries flourish.

These representatives from all over the world touch a button, creating a digital globe that serves as the opening of the ceremony celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund.

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What distinguishes Taiwan ICDF is not its actions but how it approaches local capacity. By bringing hands-on technical excellence, ICDF brings operational flexibility and transparency, rooted in democratic governance, a practice that stands in sharp contrast to predatory lending models that leave partner countries worse off.

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Taiwan’s experience offers a similar and inspiring story. Over the past several decades, Taiwan has transformed itself from an aid recipient into a respected development partner.

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From receiving help to now being a nation that exports their experiences, the Taiwan ICDF’s 30 years of hard work have created examples of diplomatic soft power that the world has taken notice of.

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The passenger terminal is connected to the pier, meaning travelers heading to Green Island or Orchid Island by ferry can check in as well as buy and pick up tickets at the terminal.

Member of public
Ferry passenger
They made this place look like what you see in other countries. It has a really sleek design, like you feel as if you’ve traveled abroad when you come in here.

The completely revamped Fugang Port Passenger Terminal means Taitung is now home to a modern port. The building’s design seamlessly incorporates the iconic ocean scenery and seaside feel of the southeastern county. The interior is akin to King Triton’s underwater palace, but the building’s most important aspect is its capacity, as up to 600 travelers can wait inside the air-conditioned building instead of being baked in the sun like they would be in the past.

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It’s designed to be able to accommodate the maximum number of passengers during the busiest of times. Four ferries can be docked outside, so right now the terminal’s big enough to handle the travel volume for Taitung, Orchid Island and Green Island.

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