To improve resource distribution in higher education, an amendment to the University Act was passed on Monday, authorizing the Ministry of Education to enforce mergers of national universities. Up to five merger plans currently in discussion are expected to be implemented in three years.

The Legislative Yuan has passed amendments to the University Act that will allow the Ministry of Education to start merging national universities.

On Tuesday, President Ma Ying-jeou expressed hopes that the mergers would help integrate educational resources.

According to MOE statistics, the number of universities and vocational schools has increased from 60 to 164 in the past 15 years, while total student enrollment has increased from 300,000 to 1.2 million.

However, schools are finding it more and more difficult to recruit students due to Taiwan's low birth rate.

A spokesperson for National Chung Hsing University, which is slated to merge with National Taichung University of Education, called on the government to provide comprehensive measures before any mergers take place.

Others say that every school has its own culture and policies, and that pre-merger discussions must be conducted to effectively utilize educational resources.

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