The brain drain of Taiwanese talent has become a hot keyword, and early childhood education is certainly no exception.

In a past generation, "Made in Taiwan" (MIT) represented a standard of quality and pride. Even though most people associated this with Taiwan's technology and manufacturing sectors, and early childhood education wasn't heavily regarded, educators in this field possessed the quiet resilience of Oshin. Through their silent dedication, the roots of Taiwan’s early childhood education were deep underground, absorbing nutrients and supplying the growth of what would become great branches and trunks.

In today's world, while technology and manufacturing seem to be precariously searching for a new spring, Taiwan’s early childhood education has flourished, drawing groups from all over Asia to seek inspiration and learn from our success.

Hospitable and idealistic by nature, early childhood educators always enthusiastically share the Taiwan experience. Yet, they are left bewildered as to whether their own country views early childhood talent as dirt or gold. From time to time, the government introduces redundant, overlapping policies that cause widespread distress across the industry. Waving the grand banners of "children's rights" and "public universal care" sounds perfectly reasonable on paper, but those working on the front lines are already utterly exhausted.

I have mentioned in speeches on many occasions that early childhood education is an industry that cannot be replaced by technology. Even in this era where online platforms and courses are being developed at a furious pace worldwide—and even with the all-powerful "Google" and AI closing in—while schools for older age groups face immense threats, early childhood education uniquely requires "real teachers." Why? Because young children cannot be raised by "fake humans."

Clearly, the high labor-intensive nature of early childhood education will never change. Therefore, trying to cut costs is out of the question—which directly contradicts the "affordable care" slogans the government has been pushing in recent years. The only explanation is that the government is providing heavy subsidies while restricting investments in nurturing future talent. If we look ten years down the line, today’s decisions will bring about a stagnant state of human resources for the next generation, and the early childhood education assets that Taiwan takes pride in today will inevitably be replaced by other markets.

University professors are leaving. The proportion of substitute teachers on one-year contracts in elementary, junior high, and high schools is climbing higher and higher. And now, early childhood teachers are being actively recruited and taken away by other countries. Taiwan’s educational strength is gradually draining away.

When our roots become shallow, can the tree ever grow large and strong?