TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s cram school industry has reached a five-year high, despite a demographic decline, reflecting a continued fixation on test scores.
As of June 26, the Ministry of Education recorded 17,710 licensed cram schools nationwide, up 328 from five years ago, per Liberty Times. Of these, 15,599 focus on test preparation, accounting for over 88%.
Although admission quotas now exceed graduate numbers in many districts due to low birth rates, the demand for tutoring remains strong. Teacher and parent groups attribute this to entrance exam pressure.
Test preparation cram schools grew by 402 over five years, while skills-based schools fell by 74. During the COVID pandemic, numbers dipped by just six.
From 2023 to 2025, test prep cram schools increased by 209, a 1% rise. Private estimates value Taiwan’s K–12 tutoring industry at about NT$150 billion (US$4.6 billion), with test prep alone accounting for over NT$100 billion.
Wu Chia-fen (吳佳芬) of the Department of Lifelong Education explained that cram schools and after-school care centers require local government licensing. Numbers fell slightly during the pandemic but rebounded afterward.
With more dual-income households and fewer children, parents are investing more in education. Cram schools have responded with customized, small-class instruction, driving modest growth.
Tung-yuan (蕭東原), chair of the National Alliance of Parents Organization, said cram school growth stems from pressure to enter prestigious schools. Despite changes in entrance exams, from a unified high school exam to the Basic Competency Test and now the Comprehensive Assessment Program, the core pressure remains.
Hsiao said, “The myth of prestigious high schools persists, the pressure to get into a good school has not decreased, and the demand for cram schools has naturally increased rather than decreased.” In the digital age, he said, nurturing self-directed learning and digital literacy may be a better alternative than endless tutoring.
National Parent Education Volunteer Association President Hsu Chu-lung (徐巨龍) said dual-income parents often rely on exam prep centers for after-school care when they cannot help with homework.
Hou Chun-liang (侯俊良), president of the National Federation of Teachers’ Unions, said the rise in test-focused cram schools reflects a failure to ease academic pressure. The 410 Education Reform movement, launched 31 years ago, advocated for expanding the number of high schools and universities, aiming to shift the focus from studying for tests to self-motivated learning.
Hou added that despite more schools being available, the pressure to advance academically has not meaningfully declined.
