Kaohsiung Education Delegation Received Warm Welcome in Houston

The 26-member Kaohsiung education delegation, led by Dr. Chin-Ting Cheng, Deputy Commissioner of the Education Bureau of Kaohsiung Municipal Government, visited Houston, Texas from February 2ndthrough 5th, 2004 to study successful education reform programs of Houston Independent School District (HISD).

Kaohsiung educators and North District of HISD are considering developing an exchange program.The program will allow teachers in both districts to share professional expertise and discuss issues through various channels.

“The educational and cultural exchange programs will enhance mutual understanding of people of the United States and Taiwan.The exchange program between HISD and Kaohsiung is of great importance and we are looking forward to it,” said Mr. Edward Feng, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Houston at the welcome reception held by HISD on February 3rd.

Since 2001, the Cultural Division of TECO in Houston has assisted educators of HISD, including officials, principals, teachers and school administrators to visit Taiwan annually.With help from Kaohsiung Municipal Government as well as Shu-te Home Economic and CommercialHigh School, HISD educators have completed successful visits and established great partnership with Kaohsiung.This year Shu-te is forming sister relationship with SamHoustonHigh School in Houston, Texas.

he delegation toured two prestigious high schools, one middle school, and one elementary school.The visits included presentations on Project CLEAR, HISD’s standardize curriculum, which specifies the subject matter and skills to be taught and tested at each grade level and it has been deemed as a successful model in the United States.