TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) presided over the 2025 Excellent Teacher Awards ceremony on Thursday at the Sheraton Grand Taipei Hotel.
Lai said he was inspired and taught by excellent teachers from elementary school to university. He credited teachers for providing him with professional knowledge, and he pledged to invest more resources in education to make it available to all students, per CNA.
The event honored 72 teachers for their distinguished service and recognized 523 teachers who completed 40 years of teaching. Lai said all of the teachers honored shared a common passion for education.
Lai said his primary concern is that all youth have equal access to education. He supports free high school and vocational training, with an NT$35,000 (US$1,160) annual tuition subsidy for students at private universities.
He also backs holistic education that recognizes individual differences and tailors teaching to each student’s aptitude and potential. He encouraged universities and high schools to offer more joint courses, and urged more students to study AI and environmental issues such as net-zero carbon emissions to help society move toward ESG goals.
Lai said the NT$10 billion “Taiwan Global Pathfinders Initiative,” which accepts applications up to NT$2 million, not only encourages students to pursue degrees abroad but also empowers young people to pursue their interests, with the government giving them a platform to realize their dreams.
Later, Minister of Education Cheng Ying-yao (鄭英耀) said Taiwan’s per capita GDP will soon surpass South Korea’s for the first time in 22 years. He said this is not a short-term phenomenon but a sustained trend, which is a tribute to the nation’s teachers, per CNA.
“Many credit semiconductors and AI for this success, but the true heroes behind the scenes are our dedicated teachers. Over 90% of the talent in the tech ecosystem is cultivated in Taiwan,” said Cheng.
Cheng admitted that the challenges facing educators have increased recently. Whether it is administrative work, parental expectations, or a rapidly changing social environment, these pressures make teaching more challenging. He pledged to strengthen the teacher support system and solicit feedback regarding school meetings to optimize efficiency, with improvements expected by the end of this year.
Cheng also pledged to reduce teachers’ administrative workload. The Ministry of Education will establish a data-sharing platform connecting all departments, offices, and agencies to centralize information, avoid duplication, and reduce unnecessary burdens on teachers.
He said there is a need to recruit more full-time teachers as many near retirement age, and he pledged to work with local governments to offer teaching positions annually to stabilize the workforce.
According to Cheng, several measures will increase benefits for teachers, such as issuing teacher appreciation vouchers; raising salaries for qualified substitute teachers in public elementary and middle schools and kindergartens based on pre-employment experience, similar to full-time teachers; and increasing the special education position allowance to NT$2,800 starting in February of next year.
Cheng said these policies represent more than just an increase in compensation; they also symbolize recognition of teachers’ professionalism and dedication. “Your dedication is visible to everyone, and the children will remember it forever. Because of you, our schools can become places that nurture happiness and hope,” said Cheng.
