The ministry is headed by the Minister of Education, who is a member of the Executive Yuan. The current minister is Pan Wen-chung.
The MOE is divided into the following departments:
* Department of Higher Education
* Department of Secondary Education
* Department of Elementary Education
* Department of Physical Education
* Department of Social Education
* Department of International Cooperation and Education
The MOE also has a number of affiliated organizations, including the National Central Library, the National Taiwan University, and the National Tsing Hua University.
History
The MOE was established on 3 June 1946, when the Kuomintang government moved to Taiwan after the Chinese Civil War. The ministry was initially responsible for education at all levels, from elementary school to university. However, in 1968, the Ministry of Education and Culture was split into two separate ministries: the MOE and the Ministry of Culture.
In 1987, the MOE underwent a major reorganization. The ministry was divided into its current departments and the number of affiliated organizations was increased.
Functions
The MOE is responsible for the following functions:
* Promoting Chinese culture and education
* Developing educational policies and programs
* Regulating educational institutions
* Providing financial assistance to educational institutions
* Conducting academic research
* Promoting international cooperation in education
Challenges
The MOE faces a number of challenges, including:
* The declining birth rate in Taiwan
* The increasing demand for higher education
* The need to improve the quality of education
* The need to internationalize education
The MOE is working to address these challenges through a number of initiatives, including:
* Increasing the number of scholarships and financial aid programs
* Improving the quality of teachers and teaching
* Developing new educational programs
* Promoting international cooperation in education