Since the lift of martial law in 1987, upper secondary education in Taiwan have been went through a changing process in the sense of both quality and quantity. As a result, the system and framework of upper secondary education have been increasingly affected. This research aims to investigate the orientation of and the relationship among curricula of upper secondary education in Taiwan. As part of a foundational research project focusing on senior high schools, this research last for two years. In the first, year, research themes included trends affecting upper secondary systems, rationales for upper secondary curricula with a special reference on common core curriculum. In the second year, research themes were aims of senior high schools, aims of senior high curricula, and ideal models for upper secondary education. Research methods adopted in this research are documentary analysis, questionnaire, and group-interview.?
Based on the research above, six conclusions were summarized as follow. First, three main aspects of social and economic trends were identified as influential on upper secondary system. Second, common core curriculum serves as a common foundation for both common requirement and transfer. Third, admission to higher education can be summarized as three different models with their corresponding curriculum features in upper secondary education. Fourth, curricula of upper secondary education can be recognized as tracked, linked and unified models. Fifth, orientation of senior high schools were increasingly recognized as less elite but more diverse in terms of students' interest, aptitude, and achievement. Sixth, four main functions of upper secondary education should be recognized and, as a result, the rationale of flexible specialization and gradually differentiation are highlighted.
