Support provided to immigrants on Taiwan's writing system: Minister

Taipei, Jan. 19 (CNA) Education Minister Cheng Ying-yao (鄭英耀) said Monday that the government understands the need for educational support for "new immigrants," after a complaint about having to use traditional Chinese characters in Taiwan gained media attention.

"New immigrants" is a legal term that refers to foreign and Chinese nationals approved for long-term residence in Taiwan, including marriage-based and other residency categories.

Various Taiwanese media outlets reported in recent days that a woman from China married to a Taiwanese person posted online that writing traditional Chinese characters in Taiwan was "bothersome."

According to those media reports, the poster expressed a hope that Taiwan's "reunification" with China would allow the use of simplified Chinese characters.

Speaking to reporters ahead of a legislative committee meeting, Cheng said Taiwan is a multicultural society and that the needs arising from cross-border marriages are "understandable."

Cheng said children of "new immigrants" who may have previously learned simplified Chinese characters -- the official writing system in China -- will need assistance after coming to Taiwan, both in their daily lives and in school.

Noting that traditional Chinese characters are Taiwan's official writing system, he said the Ministry of Education has long worked with local government education bureaus to help children of immigrants and students of foreign nationality adapt to learning and daily life in Taiwan.

He added that education bureaus and departments in cities and counties across Taiwan provide transitional learning programs as well as language counseling and assistance.