<P> The public education system in Taiwan spans nursery schools through university . Public education has been compulsory from primary school through junior high school since 1968 . In 2001 roughly 16% of the central budget was spent on education . In January 2011, President Ma announced plans to implement a full twelve - year compulsory education program by 2014 . In addition, financial support for preschool education would begin, starting with fee waivers . </P> <P> Access to high school and university is controlled by a series of national exams . Discipline in public schools of all levels is generally very tight with school uniforms and morning reveille being the norm . Students of all levels through high school are responsible for cleaning their own classrooms and areas around the school, cleanup time being a daily ritual . Corporal punishment is officially banned, but many reports suggest it is still practiced by many teachers, due in no small part to the fact that most parents support it . </P> <P> 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 two to three weeks around the Lunar New Year . Spring semester begins following the Lantern Festival in mid February and ends in early 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 . </P> <P> The school year is divided into two semesters . The first begins in the beginning of September and ends in February; the second begins in mid February and ends in late June . </P>

When does the school year start in taiwan