TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The National Federation of Education Unions (NEU) on Wednesday (Dec. 27) called on Taiwan's Ministry of Education (MOE) to bear full responsibility for incidents such as the recent student stabbing in New Taipei City and insists on changes to improve the current situation, so as to prevent students from carrying prohibited items to school.
The NEU believes amendments by the MOE have unfairly disempowered teachers. The NEU statement claimed that many schools struggle to deal with students bringing banned items, fearing backlash or being accused of bullying if teachers try to correct students.
NEU President Lin Shuo-chieh pointed out that teachers are hesitant to correct and punish behavior out of fear of being accused of "targeting" students or being reported for bullying.
In 2022, MOE amended regulations on the management of dangerous items carried by students.
Article 28 specifies that unless explicitly stated by law or sufficient evidence suggests the student is involved in criminal activity or carries banned items, their bodies, and belongings are not to be searched, the NEU said.
Meanwhile, Article 29 states that for high school inspections, two or more representatives of parents, student council members, or teachers must be present to examine students' belongings or spaces.
Lin claimed MOE's rules are difficult for grassroots teachers to implement and can be easily twisted into accusations of bullying.
He urged the MOE and local education departments to redefine regulations for handling protected students to prevent further deterioration of campus safety and safeguard the rights of other students.