The Development of Competency in Taiwan Teacher Education: A Historical Review

This article, applying documental analysis and historical study, explores and reviews the history and construction of competency-based teacher education in Taiwan. The development of competency notion in Taiwan teacher education could be divided into three periods, they are: construction period, neglect period and pressed period. Firstly, construction period, competency-based teacher education as the mainstream discourse during 1970s-1980s, build the criteria of teacher student performance. Critics, however, about the conflict between traditional Confucius culture and effective behaviorism are aroused at the same time. Secondly, neglect period, in the beginning of 1990s, education was under reform movement in Taiwan. While the PISA is investigated by OECD in this period, the focus was on the nine-year curriculum. But the concept of competency was not mentioned in the teacher education. Thirdly, pressed period, from the beginning of 21th century, policy of teacher education mainly adopted standard-based approach. Studies show that the teacher professional competency was over by some standard criteria.