no small part to the fact that most parents support it. The school year consists of two semesters. The fall semester begins in early September and runs till late January or early February. Winter vacation typically runs from three to four weeks around the Lunar New Year. Spring semester begins following the Lantern Festival in mid February and ends in late June. From middle school on, many schools hold "optional supplementary classes" during winter and summer vacation as well as after normal school hours. Despite the name, in many cases participation is compulsory. The language of instruction is Mandarin. School grades The school year is divided into two semesters. The first begins in the beginning of September and ends in January; the second begins in mid February and ends in late June. The tertiary education and postgraduate education in Taiwan have different tracks and their years and grades varies. In addition, special education, adult education, and continuing education also exist in Taiwan following similar systems mentioned above. Education system National Education The current national basic education in Taiwan is 12 years education. The implementation of this compulsory education replaces the old 9 years education. The 12 years education policy was originally proposed in 1983, but was delayed for financial reasons. Elementary school Elementary schools span grades 1 through 6, classes are held from Monday through Friday, typically from 7:30 AM through 4PM (or noon on Wednesdays). Subjects include: Mandarin: The official language of instruction. Mathematics: Mathematics education begins with the basics and reaches introductory algebra and geometry by the 6th grade. Science: Comprehensive science classes covering basic biology, physics, and chemistry. English: English is a compulsory subject within the mainstream school system from Grade 3 Elementary School and up. Native languages: Additional language classes in Taiwanese and Hakka Chinese are offered. Social studies Music Art Like middle schools, students are typically assigned to the elementary school closest to their registered place of residence. This leads some parents to file their children's household registration with other relatives or friends for the purpose of sending their children to what are perceived as better schools. Junior high school Junior high school spans grades 7 through 9 and is the last half of compulsory education. Junior high students typically focus on preparing for the national senior high school entrance exams at the end of 9th grade. School ends around 5PM, but students often stay