TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A public petition to push junior and senior high school start times to 10 a.m. and shorten the day to six hours has drawn more than 10,000 signatures in under a week, prompting the Ministry of Education to promise a response by November.

Submitted on Sept. 9 via the Public Policy Online Participation Platform, the proposal calls for shifting school hours from about 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and cutting nonessential courses, per UDN. Advocates say less classroom time would improve sleep and learning efficiency.

The petition argues that high school students commute independently, so schedules need not match parents’ work hours. It adds that a shorter day would free time for personal interests, learning portfolios, social activities, exercise, or focused study.

Public comments on the platform were mixed. Some agreed strongly — one wrote, “Taiwan’s education system is outrageous. It doesn’t even treat students as human beings.” Others countered that rather than scrapping diverse courses, schools should trim curriculum content and exam scope to reduce the number of subject-specific classes.

The MOE thanked the petitioner and participants, but noted school hours also fall under local government jurisdiction. It said the proposal will be reviewed and, under platform rules, a formal reply will be issued by Nov. 14.