Strategy for Private High Schools to Face Low Birth Rate

• Main Authors: Tien-shiang Meng, 蒙天祥
• Other Authors: Yu-ying Kuo
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2010
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/68772363428350834755

碩士 === 世新大學 === 行政管理學研究所(含博、碩專班) === 98 === This study examines the impacts of the trend of low birth rate on private senior high schools in Taiwan. It employs a case study of a private senior high school in Taipei City, which has achieved particularly high performance, with the research questions of analyzing the factors behind this strong performance and the strategies adopted by the school. The study begins by looking at the trend of low birth rate in Taiwan, and the measures being adopted in response to this situation, before going on to discuss the impacts of falling birth rate on private senior high schools, and the strategies that these schools are adopting. A review of the literature provides the foundation for analysis of the ways in which schools are affected by the trend of low birth rate. In-depth interviews are conducted with persons at the governing government agency as well as both senior and newly-joined school staff members, the principals of other private schools with similar characteristics to those of the school selected for the case study, parents’ representatives, etc. Having collated the views expressed by these individuals, with their different backgrounds, qualitative coding is used to identify the common bases for outstanding school performance. By canvassing a wide range of opinions, it is hoped that the study will help private senior high schools to cope with the challenges that they are currently facing, while also providing a useful reference for the relevant government agencies, so that they can work together to mitigate the negative impacts of falling birth rate on the educational environment. The study found that there is no “miracle cure” that schools can adopt as their strategy for coping with the impacts of falling birth rate; rather, schools need to work steadily in a step-by-step manner to get the basics right and establish themselves as a leading school in their particular field. A school that can achieve this will not be adversely affected by the trend of low birth rate. The most important step towards getting a school on the right path is maintaining the mission of the school; schools should not allow setbacks to deter them from following their mission. Secondly, all teachers must demonstrate enthusiasm in their work. To encourage staff members to be passionate about their work, schools must respect teachers and provide them with reasonable salaries and welfare benefits. In addition, having a first-rate board of directors (board of governors), combined with outstanding leadership among the school staff, has an important role to play in creating a truly outstanding school that will be in no danger of having to close down because of the impacts of falling birth rate.