TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s technology boom is leading more high school students to choose science and engineering, while enrollment in humanities programs continues to fall, EBC News reported Thursday.
Artificial intelligence and strong demand for technology workers have changed how students and parents view university choices. Many now see science and engineering degrees as safer routes to higher salaries and more stable employment.
The proportion of students choosing the humanities and social sciences track has fallen sharply in recent years. An education company said the share dropped from about 30% to 20% over three years, while the proportion choosing the science track rose to about 80%.
Taichung First Senior High School has only two humanities and social sciences classes among its 21 regular classes. Its gifted language program enrolled only seven students this year, and the school decided to suspend admissions after two years of low enrollment.
A similar change has taken place at Taipei Municipal Jianguo High School, which stopped recruiting students for its humanities and social sciences program in the 2023-2024 school year. Across Taiwan, enrollment in gifted language classes fell 41%, from 907 students to 531, while enrollment in gifted mathematics and science classes remained close to 2,000.
Some students said they changed academic direction after considering future employment and income. One graduate who enjoyed Chinese language studies switched from the humanities track to the science track after speaking with teachers and family members, although she said she regretted not following her original interests.
Students in the science track generally have a wider range of university options because they can still apply to programs such as law, finance, and the social sciences. Students in the humanities track often face greater difficulty applying to engineering, medicine, and other programs that require advanced mathematics and science.
Salary differences are another major reason for the shift. Data cited in the report showed average annual pay of NT$708,000 (US$24,100) in the technology sector, compared with NT$529,000 outside the sector, while employees at leading chip companies can earn more than NT$1 million a year.
High technology salaries are also making it harder for schools to recruit science teachers. Education officials said several high schools had sought help finding physics and chemistry teachers.
Science graduates can often earn more in private companies while avoiding the administrative and after-hours duties required of teachers. This has made teaching less attractive to people with technical backgrounds.
Education experts warned that Taiwan could lose talent if too many students choose subjects only for job security. They said schools should continue supporting language, humanities, and social science education because society needs people with a wide range of skills and perspectives.
