Should the Stars Program Bar Students (a)

『保障偏乡弱势，繁星拒绝明星？』

The idea behind the Stars Program is to lend kids from rural areas and underprivileged backgrounds a hand in getting into university. Every year, the list of students accepted into universities via the program includes some from elite public high schools and expensive private ones, making a mockery of the notion of helping the underprivileged. As a result, many people are now suggesting that the program bar the participation of students from elite schools.

This year, some 68 universities admitted a total of 8,213 Stars Program applicants, giving the program an acceptance rate of 41.16 percent. The admissions figure is the highest to date for the program, up 1,423 students from 2011's level. The top 10 high schools in terms of number of students accepted included two private schools and eight district high schools.

According to Prudence Chou, a professor in National Cheng苞hi University's Department of Education and the author of Mr. President: How Are You Going to Deal with Education in Taiwan?, the original aims of the Stars Program, which were helping outstanding students from rural areas and promoting social justice, imply that the program should be targeted at specific groups and not open to every high school student in the nation. "If even 10 or 20 percent of those admitted via the Stars Program are from elite high schools, we need to review the program," says Chou. She argues further that students whose parents have the means to send them to private schools are not underprivileged, even if they do live in rural areas. Chou says it's completely ridiculous to award scholarships to the children of rich businesspeople.

保障偏乡弱势，繁星拒绝明星？

大学繁星招生的理念，是『扶持弱势与偏乡学子』；然而，每年繁星榜单上仍出现不少明星高中与贵族私校的名字，等于直接宣告照顾弱势的理想破灭。于是学界大胆建议：何不限制明星高中不得报名繁星？

今年有 68所大学参加繁星招生，录取 8,213 名一般生，录取率百分之四十一点一六，较去年增加 1,423人，创 6 年来新高。今年录取人数最多的前 10 所学校，两所是私校，其余 8 所是小区高中。

《台湾教育怎么办？》作者、政大教育系教授周祝瑛表示，繁星计划的初衷是『扶持偏乡优质学生、体现社会正义』，意味着繁星的执行应有所针对性，而非开放全国各地高中都能申请。她说：『只要有一、两成录取者来自明星高中，繁星就应被检讨。』『即使住在偏乡，有能力供孩子读私校的家庭应不是弱势。』周祝瑛举清寒奖学金做比喻，『用意是要帮助清寒学生，结果竟出现几个大老板的子女获奖，岂不荒谬？』