TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — In response to a growing wave of teacher retirements, Taiwan’s Ministry of Education is considering expanding flexible hiring channels to recruit industry professionals as teachers for elementary and junior high schools.
The proposal has sparked debate. While education officials defend it as a supplementary measure, the National Federation of Teachers Unions on Wednesday warned it may serve only as a short-term fix, according to CNA.
The initiative targets individuals with at least six years of relevant experience in industry or academia, particularly those from companies with 100 or more employees or foreign enterprises. Candidates must also hold a bachelor’s degree in a related field aligned with junior high school teacher education standards.
According to the ministry, these specialized hires would be limited to one-eighth of a school’s full-time teaching staff. Schools must first evaluate applicants through internal committees before submitting them to the ministry for final review.
An advisory committee will be formed to assess whether candidates meet the required qualifications. This includes verifying work experience in related industries or higher education teaching and research roles.
However, the National Federation of Teachers Unions has expressed concern that the initiative may only paper over deeper issues in the teaching profession. Chair Hou Chun-liang (侯俊良) said the core issue is the growing number of certified teacher candidates unwilling to enter the profession.
Federation official Wu Chang-mei (巫彰玫) warned that bypassing traditional requirements, such as education credits, certification exams, and internships, could weaken the teacher training system. Wu also cautioned that the move may discourage young people from pursuing teaching as a career.
TPP Legislator Liu Shu-pin (劉書彬) noted that Taiwan currently has a reserve pool of about 70,000 teacher candidates, including a 20% share trained in natural sciences. She argued that the real challenge lies in recruitment and placement practices, particularly in remote and outlying areas.
In its response, the ministry emphasized that flexible hiring is meant to complement existing training pathways. Schools may choose whether to use this channel based on specific staffing needs.
To address broader recruitment challenges, the ministry said it continues to expand teacher training programs. These include increased pre-service training slots, post-bachelor education credit courses, and government-funded classes.
