As the old saying goes, “It takes ten years to grow a tree, while a sound education program may require ten times as long before it takes root.” Since 1968, the nine-year compulsory education has been implemented in Taiwan for fifty years.
In 2018, National Chengchi University, Sun Yat Sen Academic and Cultural Foundation, Chungcheng Cultural and Educational Foundation, National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, and National Archives Administration of National Development Council will jointly hold a series of events, including a conference, a special exhibition, and a documentary screening to discuss and demonstrate the profound impact and contribution of the nine-year compulsory education to Taiwan.

The conference will be held in the Chung Shan Lecture Hall at National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall on September 9, a remarkable day in the development of education in Taiwan. Dating back to 1968, a joint opening ceremony for all junior high schools in Taiwan was also held on this day, which marks the beginning of the nine-year compulsory education. In this conference, the host will invite not only policy-makers of this important education policy and those who experienced the nine-year compulsory education during its early years but also scholars and experts in related fields for discussion.

In addition, the host will hold a special exhibition from September 4 to 27 in the Cultural Gallery at National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall. This exhibition will focus on the development of the nine-year compulsory education in Taiwan in the past fifty years by presenting kinds of archives and materials, including old photos, uniforms, textbooks, book bags, and transcripts. These objects will recall people’s memory of their school days. Besides, there will be a documentary, which is specially filmed for this exhibition. Everyone is cordially invited to the exhibition and the documentary screening. It is expected that through this informative exhibition, the public will understand more about the importance and meaning of the nine-year compulsory education in Taiwan.