The Impact of Skill Test on Technical High Schools in Taiwan

Abstract

This study primarily investigated the impact of skill test on vocational education in Taiwan. The skill test certificate, issued by the government, assessed the proficiency of technical skills, providing vocational school students with a clear understanding of their learning outcomes. Through a questionnaire survey, this research gathered insights from vocational school principals regarding the use of the skill test as a measure of student skill acquisition and its appropriateness within the educational context. A survey was conducted using a combination of open-ended and closed-ended questions as research instruments. The survey targeted principals of technical high schools and a total of 60 questionnaires were collected. The results indicated that the primary benefits of implementing a skill test were the improvement of the students' technical proficiency (98.3%) and the enhancement of the teachers' professional instructional skills (71.7%). The primary issues requiring improvement were the impact of skill test on traditional school instruction (45%) and the obsolete nature of examination questions (33.3%). The policy recommendations included: 1. increasing industry participation and assigning private organizations to manage relevant skill test certificates under the Workforce Development Agency, MOL. supervision; 2. reviewing and updating skill test to improve their content; and 3. urging the Ministry of Education to align the curriculum with skill test requirements. In conclusion, optimizing the content and processes of skill test, promoting Occupational Competency Standard and enhancing the social image of vocational education could effectively change societal perceptions of skills and improve the overall quality of vocational education.

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Author Information
Jen-Chia Chang, National Taipei University of Technology, Taiwan
Shao-Chen Chou, National Taipei University of Technology, Taiwan