Opinion Piece: Can a Newly Established Experimental High School Truly Solve Miaoli's Educational Challenges?

Facing the industrial transformation and population influx trends brought by the 'Taoyuan-Hsinchu-Miaoli Greater Silicon Valley Plan,' Miaoli County Government is actively deploying educational resources to respond to local parents' strong expectations for quality high schools—an initiative whose original intent is commendable. However, amid the enthusiasm for establishing new experimental high schools and the choices surrounding resource allocation, the county government must possess a comprehensive perspective and sustainable thinking.

Precise Diagnosis and Resource Integration: Forward-Looking Planning for Future Development

In response to the dynamic changes in regional development, the county government's primary task is comprehensive policy diagnosis and resource integration. Educational development within Miaoli should not be a zero-sum game between 'newly established schools' and 'existing schools.' The county government should conduct in-depth analyses of trends in school-age population changes, actual gaps in industrial talent demand, and the operational bottlenecks and strengths of existing public and private high schools.

Considering the county's limited financial and land resources, the county government should adopt a 'dual-track' strategy: on one hand, carefully evaluating the necessity and feasibility of establishing new experimental high schools; on the other, focusing resources on transforming and upgrading existing public and private schools. Through precise diagnosis, resources can be allocated effectively, avoiding the marginalization of the existing educational network due to blindly pursuing the prestige of a new school.

Selecting Outstanding Principals: Driving School Transformation with Visionary Leadership

Schools are the foundation where education is implemented, and principals are the soul of this foundation. The success of experimental education or teaching innovation highly depends on leaders with professional competence and the courage to drive change.

In its principal selection mechanism, the county government should shift its mindset and select capable individuals based on educational philosophy, leadership execution, and resource integration capabilities. An outstanding principal deeply understands local needs, unites community and school-wide consensus, and builds a supportive and secure environment for teachers to innovate. If the county government can appoint visionary educators as principals, it will inject continuous transformative energy into the county's entire education system.

Strengthening the Teaching Team: Enhancing Welfare, Professionalism, and Pride

No matter how perfect the systems and hardware are, they ultimately rely on frontline teachers for implementation. Currently, Taiwan's education sector faces challenges such as teacher attrition and declining teaching enthusiasm. For Miaoli to stand out in regional educational competition, it must demonstrate policy determination in cultivating, supporting, and retaining teachers:

Substantially improving welfare and support systems: Provide reasonable allowances, performance bonuses, improved benefits, administrative burden reduction, and support systems to ensure excellent teachers can work without worries.

Deepening professional development and support: Establish cross-school, cross-disciplinary teacher professional learning communities, collaborate with nearby top universities and industry resources, and offer cutting-edge training and curriculum development support to empower teachers with the latest teaching strategies.

Building pride and cohesion: Through public recognition, project grants, and granting professional autonomy, teachers should feel their expertise is respected and visible, fostering strong team cohesion and local belonging.

Effective Supervision and Support: Transforming the Government's Role from 'Manager' to 'Empowerer'

Finally, the county government's role in educational governance should shift from the traditional 'administrative supervisor' to a 'school partner and enabler.'

Fulfilling supervisory responsibilities means ensuring proper use of education budgets, strict quality control of experimental education, and equitable access to education. Fulfilling supportive responsibilities means that when schools face challenges in curriculum innovation, integrating external resources, or overcoming administrative obstacles, the county government proactively coordinates across departments and provides legal and financial support, becoming the strongest backing for schools and teachers.

Building Foundations for a Sustainable Future

Education is a century-long endeavor that cannot be achieved overnight, nor can it rely on short-term political highlights and slogans. Facing the opportunities and challenges of the AI era, Miaoli County Government should demonstrate the sophistication and professionalism of educational governance—through precise diagnosis and resource integration, appointing outstanding principals to lead, fully investing in strengthening teaching teams, and promoting overall progress through responsible supervision and support. Only by steadily building a solid foundation step by step can a high-quality, sustainable educational future truly be created for its citizens.

*The author is a retired vice-principal of a high school.