TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s government watchdog has asked the education ministry to devise measures to prevent school bullying.
Control Yuan members met with Education Minister Cheng Ying-yao (鄭英耀), the deputy education ministers, and heads of various education ministry agencies at a briefing on Monday (Nov. 25).
Control Yuan member Pu Chung-cheng (浦忠成) noted recent bullying reports in the media at the meeting, according to a Tuesday Control Yuan press release.
The government’s approach to preventing workplace bullying has been in the spotlight since the death of a labor ministry employee in early November. The employee died by suicide at work and allegations of bullying and overwork surfaced in the aftermath.
Pu said bullying and inappropriate disciplinary methods have been found in kindergartens, schools, and universities, including between students, teachers and students, and principals and teachers.
Pu said the Control Yuan has investigated 17 cases of on-campus bullying over the past four years and has proposed corrective measures in 14 instances. He said this shows the importance of the bullying issue.
Pu said he looks forward to hearing the Ministry of Education propose review and bullying improvement measures. When the Control Yuan proposes corrective measures, agencies have two months to report back on improvement plans.
Control Yuan members also highlighted several other topics at the meeting, including the health ministry’s mental health support program for people aged 14 to 45. The members said depression among students is increasing and asked if the education ministry had plans to address this.
Other issues raised included the relative budgets of vocational institutes and universities, plagiarism standards, and standards for handling on-campus sexual harassment complaints. The Control Yuan also discussed agricultural training, subsidies, preschools, and other issues.
Minister Cheng and other education ministry officials responded to the concerns, according to the release.
Pu added that he hoped the education ministry would consider Indigenous education methods. He said Taiwan is a place where Austronesian and Han people live and prosper together and mutual assistance between the two would ensure this continued.
